VfL Wolfsburg is the second youngest team in the Bundesliga and could get a little younger this weekend: 17-year-old Bennit Bröger is now part of the Lower Saxony Bundesliga squad.
Leaves an impression: Bennit Bröger impressed in training – and could be in the Wolfsburg squad in Bremen. IMAGO/Zinc
The start was complicated for Ralph Hasenhüttl. The new coach of VfL Wolfsburg took up his duties, but dozens of players were scattered around the world with their national teams. The Austrian filled his training squad with young players, one of whom particularly stood out: Bennit Bröger, 17 years old and therefore even younger in the VfL U19 team.
The attacking midfielder made a brilliant impression. “Even at the risk of writing him bigger than he perhaps is,” emphasizes Hasenhüttl with the necessary caution: “Bennit will always be with us in the future.” And on Saturday (3:30 p.m., LIVE! on kicker) against Werder Bremen perhaps already in the Wolfsburg squad.
The training of their own talents is important to the Wolfsburg team, but in the past the permeability to the professional squad was very limited; after Maximilian Arnold and Robin Knoche (now at Union Berlin), no one established themselves permanently.
Will there now be a change of course under Hasenhüttl? “Anyone who has followed my history knows that I was very happy to give players from my own ranks the chance to play in the first team,” emphasizes the 56-year-old. “It’s something I really enjoy doing because I think you should benefit from investing money and time in these players.”
“Quick feet”: This is how Hasenhüttl describes youngster Bröger
Players like Bröger, who comes from the neighboring city of Braunschweig and has come through all of VfL’s youth teams. He has “quick feet,” says Hasenhüttl. “He has great solutions on the ball, we now know, not just because of the German national team, how important such players are in the offensive area.” Players “who are difficult to grab, who simply have good movements and can free themselves from tight spaces. He showed that quite well in the first week.”
Hasenhüttl started his job at VfL with an open mind; his first impressions are crucial for the Bremen game. And that’s where Bröger scored. “I added him straight away because he’s done very well in the last week and a half. And if someone shows like that in training, he has to get the chance to be with us straight away. And he will get it. It certainly can “It’s possible that he’ll even be in the squad at the weekend.”
“We have some outstanding youth players here”
The talents can hope. With Dzenan Pejcinovic and Kofi Amoako, other U-19 players have already received playing minutes this season, and 17-year-old Bröger could be next. Hasenhüttl: “In Southampton I was probably the coach who gave the young players the chance to move up the most. We have a few outstanding youth players here, we should see them and they should also be seen. And if they… Take advantage of the opportunity, if they are with us, they should also have the chance to play.”
Wait and see at Casteels – Majer is also injured
In Bremen, some national players are likely to be at a disadvantage because they haven’t really been able to show themselves to the new coach yet. “It will generally be a bit difficult for the players who came late to get in,” announces Hasenhüttl. “Those who have already been here have an advantage. Because I will have many people with me who I have already worked with for a week and a half. I have to use this advantage.”
And wait and see about personnel matters: Keeper Koen Casteels (shoulder) is shaky, and Lovro Majer (calf) also returned from the Croatian national team with an injury. A potential replacement for the playmaker has emerged: youngster Bröger.
2024-03-28 18:09:32
#Bremen #Hasenhüttl #pulls #talent #Bröger #hat
