DFB.de: You’ve also played three games for the first team under Joachim Löw. Does this mean you can also relate to the situation of the new players coming in?
Jonathan Tah: Definitely. In the seniors, there are experienced players who you can learn from and whose instructions you can follow. I can pass on the experiences that I had at that level to the U21 team. The target of every U21 international is to play in the first team at some point. The U21 side is the last stage before making the step up to the senior squad.
DFB.de: What are your first impressions of the new team, both on and off the pitch?
Jonathan Tah: As I said before, for lots of the players, the U21s is something completely new and it can be daunting and we, the more established players, want to make their settling in process easier. Most of us all know each other quite well anyway through the Bundesliga or playing in national youth teams earlier in our careers so that should help the new guys to adapt to their surroundings more quickly. The quality on the pitch is really high as it always is with German national teams. We’ve trained well until now and I am eager to see how it all fits into place for the first match.
DFB.de: What are you expecting of the opponents, Hungary, tonight?
Jonathan Tah: I think that Hungary will sit very deep and look to break on the counter. They will have prepared very well for the game and play aggressively. We’ve got to carry out our game plan to the letter and we want to dominate the opponents, have lots of possession and be compact. That’s always what we aim to do.
Jonathan Tah had mixed feelings as he followed the German U21 European Championship triumph, sitting in front of his television. The Bayer 04 Leverkusen centre-back took part in the preparations at the training camp in Grassau before being ruled out of the tournament in Poland through injury.
63 days after the final in Krakow, the Germany U21 side start their new season with a game against Hungary today (18:00 CEST). Along with returnee Tah, there are 14 other new faces in the squad. The 21-year-old, who has also won three caps for the Germany first team, was named as U21 captain for the upcoming international fixtures by coach Stefan Kuntz. In an interview with DFB.de, Tah talks about the new team, his role within it and the game against Hungary.
DFB.de: Mr Tah, what were your feelings after the U21 victory in the European Championship final against Spain?
Jonathan Tah: First of all I really enjoyed how well the team played and I was over the moon for the boys. I was engrossed in the whole tournament and was in constant contact with the players. Of course I had moments where I was very upset not to be able to be there. It was very disappointing to have to pull out so shortly before the tournament. But that’s done now and we already have a new goal.
DFB.de: Qualification for the next European Championship in Italy in the summer of 2019, right?
Jonathan Tah: Exactly. The boys who went to Poland or guys returning like me, Timo Baumgartl and Lukas Klostermann are now the elder statesmen in the group and we want to lead the new group forward. Obviously we can use the team from the championships in Poland in a way as a role model and we want to emulate their achievements.
DFB.de: Stefan Kuntz has named you captain for the upcoming internationals. What do you think your role is in this position of leadership?
Jonathan Tah: I am very proud that the boss has trusted me with this position. I want to assume more of a responsibility and to help the younger players, to motivate them. That’s expected of me and of the other experienced players in the group. At the same time the new players can also contribute their own opinions and will be listened to and respected. That’s the way a good team works.
DFB.de: You’ve also played three games for the first team under Joachim Löw. Does this mean you can also relate to the situation of the new players coming in?
Jonathan Tah: Definitely. In the seniors, there are experienced players who you can learn from and whose instructions you can follow. I can pass on the experiences that I had at that level to the U21 team. The target of every U21 international is to play in the first team at some point. The U21 side is the last stage before making the step up to the senior squad.
DFB.de: What are your first impressions of the new team, both on and off the pitch?
Jonathan Tah: As I said before, for lots of the players, the U21s is something completely new and it can be daunting and we, the more established players, want to make their settling in process easier. Most of us all know each other quite well anyway through the Bundesliga or playing in national youth teams earlier in our careers so that should help the new guys to adapt to their surroundings more quickly. The quality on the pitch is really high as it always is with German national teams. We’ve trained well until now and I am eager to see how it all fits into place for the first match.
DFB.de: What are you expecting of the opponents, Hungary, tonight?
Jonathan Tah: I think that Hungary will sit very deep and look to break on the counter. They will have prepared very well for the game and play aggressively. We’ve got to carry out our game plan to the letter and we want to dominate the opponents, have lots of possession and be compact. That’s always what we aim to do.
