"I wish he played more": U21 national coach recommends a change to Tillmann

Created: 04/20/2022, 14:54

By: Corbinian Kothny

Antonio Di Salvo recommends a change for his protégé Malik Tillmann.

© Herbertz / Nico Herbertz / Imago images

Malik Tillmann commutes between the professional squad at FC Bayern and appearances in the regional league.

U21 national trainer Antonio Di Salvo sees this critically.

Munich

- 90 minutes on the bench on Sunday in Bielefeld, 90 minutes on the pitch in Bayreuth on Sunday.

Malik Tillmann has had an Easter weekend packed with football.

For the U21 national player, this is the current rhythm at the weekend.

It's not enough for regular playing time with the pros of FC Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, his talent is actually too great for assignments in the Regionalliga Bayern for the amateurs.

Tillmann is in a dilemma that awaits many youth players at the record champions.

FC Bayern: Tillmann suffers a cruciate ligament rupture in 2020

The current situation is also unsatisfactory for his coach in the U21 national team.

"I would like him to play more," explains Antonio Di Salvo in an interview.

"It's extremely important that young players get their time.

That's why I recommended to Malik that if he doesn't play with the pros, he has to play in the regional league."

A regional league player in the German U21 national team?

What was unthinkable a few years ago is now the bitter reality.

This is one of the reasons why Di Salvo recently criticized the attitude of some youth players.

The statement did not go to Tillmann.

"You have to take into account that Malik had a cruciate ligament tear and is using this year to train at a professional level for a year," explains Di Salvo.

Tillmann suffered the knee injury in October 2020 and was only able to play again in the current season.

Malik Tillmann: Antonio Di Salvo recommends a change

The 19-year-old still plays an important role in the U21s.

In the decisive European Championship qualifier against Israel at the end of March, the young striker scored the only goal to make it 1-0.

For FC Bayern, however, it was only enough for four Bundesliga appearances in the current season.

After all, Tillmann made twelve appearances in the regional league.

Not a long-term solution, however.

For Di Salvo it is therefore clear: "In the summer he has to take the next step and possibly switch to the 1st or 2nd Bundesliga to prove himself there." (kk)