Löwen-Talent rejects premier league offers: "At sixty I feel at home"

Niklas Lang could have made it to a Bundesliga team. But the defensive talent wants to assert itself first in the 3rd division - at TSV 1860 Munich.

• The TSV 1860 München has the contract with defender Niklas Lang extended.
• The 18-year-old also had offers from teams from the Bundesliga .
• He has reasons for staying with the Lions - which 2020 will also see “really brutal” .

Munich - in 2019 he had one leg at VfB Stuttgart , in spring 2020 1. FC Köln and Hoffenheim vied for him. Niklas Lang (18) could have made the leap to a Bundesliga club * at the age of 17 , but the Starnberger would like to work his way up in his own club first. Nobody doubts that he has what it takes and could replace a seasoned central defender like Aaron Berzel (28, at Türkgücü) in the medium term . Not the lion bosses who extended with him until 2022 , and neither did he himself.

The # lions bind defensive talent Niklas #Lang. The number 3 remains loyal to the # lions. All information 👉 https://t.co/Y3a7V9Dysg.#tsv1860 @ 3_liga # showssuns #ELIL # fu3ball # TogetherFürSechzig # 3liga pic.twitter.com/1JKZWmpr0F

Niklas, one of your strengths is to "bite into" opponents. Is the goal to get stuck in the Lions third division squad?

Lang : If you have the chance in football, then you have to take it. As a young player, it's not easy to get into a team like that, it's primarily about performance.

In the tests against Bayreuth and Regensburg you were in the starting line-up.

Lang : It's nice when the coach gives you playing time. The games were also pretty good by me. There is always something you can improve on, but overall it worked out, I think.

How would you describe your strengths?

Lang : I think I'm relatively strong in defensive behavior. Also in terms of speed, which means I could do a lot of things again. There is certainly still room for improvement in play structure and positional play.

Other children who grow up at the lake, sail or surf. For you there should only have been football.

Lang : I played in our village when I was three (in Perchting / Red.) . Also about my father, who was my trainer in the beginning. Then I'm to Starnberg. A lot came through the family, absolutely. My father used to play soccer himself, my mother and father were in athletics. So I've always been into sports.

At 1860 there is now a professional opportunity. What spoke against looking for her at VfB in 2019?

Lang : Last summer there was this offer from Stuttgart. In the end, I'm very grateful in 1860 that they gave me another chance afterwards - and then a really good chance. I couldn't wait for that and it was great.

Sounds like you've been torn.

Lang : It was difficult because I felt very comfortable in Munich * and also in 1860. Then the question was whether I would do it or not. Sure: It would have been boarding school, but I would definitely have been out ... In the end, those responsible here also tried very hard for me and showed me a clear perspective.

Because 1860 has the most convincing youth concept? There is hardly any other club where talents can make it into the professional squad so quickly.

Lang : You can see that it works. Dennis Dressel really worked out last season, as did Fabi Greilinger and Noel Niemann. There are many who, if they bet, have played their way into the team. This year you see it really brutal. The permeability is of course great here.

You didn't just sign the new contract out of gratitude ...

Lang : No, absolutely not. I have great opportunities here and I just feel at home in the club. That's why I'm happy to be here.

Still the question of personal goals remains?

Lang : I would like to play a few games. I was there in Münster last year, it was a huge experience.

Interview: Uli Kellner * tz.de is part of the Ippen-Digital editorial network.