Bad Ragaz (dpa) - Coach Lucien Favre feels "a little like at school" given the many top talents at Borussia Dortmund. But that, said the Swiss in an interview with "Welt am Sonntag", he likes. "Because they are all good guys with a lot of potential."
In the coming season, in addition to the regulars Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland (both 20), newcomers Jude Bellingham as well as Giovanni Reyna (both 17) and Mateu Morey (20) could increasingly get playing minutes at the runner-up. Youssoufa Moukoko, who was recently promoted to the professional squad, is only 15 years old.
"For example, Bellingham is only 17 but he has a very large presence, he has played second division in England," said Favre. "And Reyna is an incredibly clever player for his age. Haaland played in Austria's Bundesliga and Champions League before he came to us." The club is "specifically looking for such exceptional talent," said the 62-year-old. "And the boys know that this is where they get a chance to develop and play. We do a lot for them as a club."
Moukoko is an "absolute exception" at this young age, according to Favre. The top performers Thorgan Hazard (27) and Marco Reus (31) "could almost be his fathers," joked the coach. The club has a special responsibility with these players. "That is clear. We ask a lot from these players," said Favre. "But they need time to understand what it means to be a real professional. We have to accept that. It's a development."
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BVB squad