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In the first half of the Bundesliga season, a series of talented young stars and budding internationals caused a stir on the pitch. DFB.de set out to meet some of them before the second half of the season gets underway on Friday. Today we catch up with TSG Hoffenheim’s Niklas Süle.
Sometimes, what happens away from the main events in a match are more significant than the spectacular goals, daring tackles and delicate dribbling that make it onto that evening’s TV highlights, and so it proved when 1899 Hoffenheim met Borussia Dortmund in Sinsheim on Matchday 16. TSG quickly took the lead after a hectic start, and Dortmund’s first attempt on goal was foiled by Niklas Süle, who collided with German international Marco Reus in the process. There was a heated exchange of words and a short skirmish, but as the 1.95m, 96 kg Süle squared up to Reus, it was the latter who backed down.
Thinking back to that moment, the 18-year-old reflected, “Of course I’ve got enormous respect for Reus, but I don’t give anyone an inch on the pitch.” The centre-back is certainly not lacking in confidence, but why? While anyone who finds themselves in the starting back four of a Bundesliga side at such a young age has to be assured of their abilities, the Frankfurt-born defender believes he still has a lot of improvements to make. In this DFB.de interview with reporter Peter Scheffler, Niklas Süle explains who is helping him to develop and outlines his aim to prevent TSG from conceding whenever possible in the second half of the season.
DFB.de: You’ve started in central defence for the past nine league matches. Do you already see yourself as a regular first-team Bundesliga player?
Niklas Süle: No, I wouldn’t go that far yet. The coach gave me an opportunity in the first half of the season, and even I was surprised about that at first. But I made the most of my chance, and things have been going very well for me ever since. I’m grateful to Markus Gisdol for that.
DFB.de: The coach also encourages you by using individual video analyses. How does that work?
Süle: Markus Gisdol and our video analyst show me a compilation of moments from my matches and we discuss them together. It’s important that I assess my own performances. Then he explains what he believes I can improve. It’s very useful to have that explained with the help of the video footage.
DFB.de: Does this mean you also discuss what your coach calls your "all-or-nothing tackling" that was the subject of an entire Bild article?
Süle: Of course. I see those tackles as one of my strengths, but the coach would like us to win most balls without tackling. I’m taking that to heart and trying to improve that in training too. But I know that he won’t rip my head off if I continue putting in tackles in the near future, provided I make contact with the ball. (laughs)
DFB.de: Was this mutual trust another reason for extending your contract until 2017?
Süle: Yes, I’ll be able to develop very well here. The conditions are top class, I can develop my game in piece and play matches regularly.
DFB.de: Does that mean you were not swayed by the offers submitted from major clubs abroad?
Süle: MI was aware of them, but my agent handled it all. It would be great to play in England at some point, but at the moment I’m 100 per cent happy in Hoffenheim. I’m not thinking about moving; I want to continue to work on my game here instead.
DFB.de: Incidentally, your agent is former German international and world-class centre-back Karlheinz Förster. When not helping you contractually, does he also give you defensive tips?
Süle: We’re both defenders, so he helps me to continue improving. When someone who played 81 times for his country offers you advice, you listen. He achieved so much in his career and did everything I want to do.
DFB.de: Another of your role models is Jérôme Boateng. What is it about the Bayern Munich player that you admire?
Süle: I’ve been following his career since I was a kid. He is unbelievably calm on the ball and barely ever puts a foot wrong at the very highest level. I think that’s so impressive.
DFB.de: When you think about Boateng, does it bring back memories of your most exciting match to date?
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Süle: Of course, matches against Bayern are always highlights, but to score my first Bundesliga goal against them topped everything else. We were still very unlucky to lose the match [2-1 on Matchday 11 – editor’s note]. I would have preferred to score the winner. (laughs)
DFB.de: Hoffenheim’s games have generally not been short on spectacle. TSG have scored the third-highest number of goals so far this season – 36 – but have conceded 38, more than any other side in the league. As a defender, is that an unsatisfactory situation?
Süle: We just have a very attacking playing style, but just before the winter break we could have been better coordinated. Of course, we want to continue playing attacking football, but our focus when preparing for the rest of the season has been on stabilising our rearguard. It’s been going well, and we only conceded one goal in four friendlies. If all our players work together on defence, we’ll keep more clean sheets in the second half of the season.
DFB.de: Whether Max Meyer, Timo Werner or Leon Goretzka, many of your previous or current team-mates in Germany’s youth system have also broken through at the top level this season. Do you think this will be a strong age group in the Bundesliga?
Süle: We already showed that in 2012 by finishing as runners-up at the U-17 European Championship, when we were unlucky to concede a late equaliser in the final and ultimately lost on penalties. Of course, I’m pleased to see those team-mates again in the league. Both the clubs and the DFB provide extremely professional support and make the step-up to professional football easier, both on and off the pitch.
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[bild1]
In the first half of the Bundesliga season, a series of talented young stars and budding internationals caused a stir on the pitch. DFB.de set out to meet some of them before the second half of the season gets underway on Friday. Today we catch up with TSG Hoffenheim’s Niklas Süle.
Sometimes, what happens away from the main events in a match are more significant than the spectacular goals, daring tackles and delicate dribbling that make it onto that evening’s TV highlights, and so it proved when 1899 Hoffenheim met Borussia Dortmund in Sinsheim on Matchday 16. TSG quickly took the lead after a hectic start, and Dortmund’s first attempt on goal was foiled by Niklas Süle, who collided with German international Marco Reus in the process. There was a heated exchange of words and a short skirmish, but as the 1.95m, 96 kg Süle squared up to Reus, it was the latter who backed down.
Thinking back to that moment, the 18-year-old reflected, “Of course I’ve got enormous respect for Reus, but I don’t give anyone an inch on the pitch.” The centre-back is certainly not lacking in confidence, but why? While anyone who finds themselves in the starting back four of a Bundesliga side at such a young age has to be assured of their abilities, the Frankfurt-born defender believes he still has a lot of improvements to make. In this DFB.de interview with reporter Peter Scheffler, Niklas Süle explains who is helping him to develop and outlines his aim to prevent TSG from conceding whenever possible in the second half of the season.
DFB.de: You’ve started in central defence for the past nine league matches. Do you already see yourself as a regular first-team Bundesliga player?
Niklas Süle: No, I wouldn’t go that far yet. The coach gave me an opportunity in the first half of the season, and even I was surprised about that at first. But I made the most of my chance, and things have been going very well for me ever since. I’m grateful to Markus Gisdol for that.
DFB.de: The coach also encourages you by using individual video analyses. How does that work?
Süle: Markus Gisdol and our video analyst show me a compilation of moments from my matches and we discuss them together. It’s important that I assess my own performances. Then he explains what he believes I can improve. It’s very useful to have that explained with the help of the video footage.
DFB.de: Does this mean you also discuss what your coach calls your "all-or-nothing tackling" that was the subject of an entire Bild article?
Süle: Of course. I see those tackles as one of my strengths, but the coach would like us to win most balls without tackling. I’m taking that to heart and trying to improve that in training too. But I know that he won’t rip my head off if I continue putting in tackles in the near future, provided I make contact with the ball. (laughs)
DFB.de: Was this mutual trust another reason for extending your contract until 2017?
Süle: Yes, I’ll be able to develop very well here. The conditions are top class, I can develop my game in piece and play matches regularly.
DFB.de: Does that mean you were not swayed by the offers submitted from major clubs abroad?
Süle: MI was aware of them, but my agent handled it all. It would be great to play in England at some point, but at the moment I’m 100 per cent happy in Hoffenheim. I’m not thinking about moving; I want to continue to work on my game here instead.
DFB.de: Incidentally, your agent is former German international and world-class centre-back Karlheinz Förster. When not helping you contractually, does he also give you defensive tips?
Süle: We’re both defenders, so he helps me to continue improving. When someone who played 81 times for his country offers you advice, you listen. He achieved so much in his career and did everything I want to do.
DFB.de: Another of your role models is Jérôme Boateng. What is it about the Bayern Munich player that you admire?
Süle: I’ve been following his career since I was a kid. He is unbelievably calm on the ball and barely ever puts a foot wrong at the very highest level. I think that’s so impressive.
DFB.de: When you think about Boateng, does it bring back memories of your most exciting match to date?
[bild2]
Süle: Of course, matches against Bayern are always highlights, but to score my first Bundesliga goal against them topped everything else. We were still very unlucky to lose the match [2-1 on Matchday 11 – editor’s note]. I would have preferred to score the winner. (laughs)
DFB.de: Hoffenheim’s games have generally not been short on spectacle. TSG have scored the third-highest number of goals so far this season – 36 – but have conceded 38, more than any other side in the league. As a defender, is that an unsatisfactory situation?
Süle: We just have a very attacking playing style, but just before the winter break we could have been better coordinated. Of course, we want to continue playing attacking football, but our focus when preparing for the rest of the season has been on stabilising our rearguard. It’s been going well, and we only conceded one goal in four friendlies. If all our players work together on defence, we’ll keep more clean sheets in the second half of the season.
DFB.de: Whether Max Meyer, Timo Werner or Leon Goretzka, many of your previous or current team-mates in Germany’s youth system have also broken through at the top level this season. Do you think this will be a strong age group in the Bundesliga?
Süle: We already showed that in 2012 by finishing as runners-up at the U-17 European Championship, when we were unlucky to concede a late equaliser in the final and ultimately lost on penalties. Of course, I’m pleased to see those team-mates again in the league. Both the clubs and the DFB provide extremely professional support and make the step-up to professional football easier, both on and off the pitch.
