Youth coach speaks to BILD in an interview. - Tullberg's thoughts on the finale.
"Instead of measuring success solely based on outcomes, I firmly believe that nurturing young players is a priority. If the training is excellent, success will naturally follow."
What does this entail?
"This season, we facilitated the professional debuts of Samuel Bamba, Hendry Blank, and Kjell Wätjen. This is a strong testament to the quality of our training. We progressed to the semi-finals against Hertha BSC, an opponent with significant professional experience. It's quite surprising that we've reached the finals this season considering our youth."
With an unprecedented 70 points in the league and a third successive West German title, how do you feel about the upcoming final against Hoffenheim?
"We've surpassed expectations by breaking the points record with a team that wasn't predicted to achieve this. The majority of our players hail from the 2006 and 2007 age groups. While we may not be worse than Hoffenheim or Hertha, their ability to leverage the best players from the 2005er year group gives them a clear advantage.
Do they have the upper hand?
"Hoffenheim's the favorite. They have an exceptional year group, an older and more experienced team, and a large number of players from the older age group in their squad. That doesn't mean, however, that anything's set in stone. The outcome of a match is always uncertain, and I'm immensely proud of our team's progression this season. We aimed to reach the final, and we've accomplished that goal. Now, I feel more at ease since no matter what happens, the boys have had an extraordinary season."
What's next for players like Kjell Wätjen who have signed professional contracts? Cole Campbell also shined in the semifinal. Who's likely to join them at the top?
"Patience is crucial at this age. Today's world expects everything to happen instantly. For instance, Kjell has gradually improved and demonstrated his skills by holding his own in his professional debut against Augsburg. He'll need to prove himself day in and day out when he joins the professional squad in the summer."
Finally, would you choose a Champions League title or a German U19 championship?
"Of course, the Henkelpot! As a member of this club, it's the pinnacle achievement in club football. I'm not one for the limelight."
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