Soccer League and National Team Development Discussion
Question by CNA:
Outside of the national team's tournament, the professional league has an unshakeable place in today's soccer world. What role does the league play in the development of soccer in a country?
Klinsmann replied:
The league is crucial. The Bundesliga in Germany is the stage of every child's dreams. In Germany, whether in Munich, Stuttgart or Berlin, the game of soccer is naturally passed on to children, thus inspiring them to love and dream about a team.
Ma Mingyu added:
The league is the touchstone that drives the development of soccer in the country, and it requires a stable and healthy ecosystem, which has a profound impact on the development of the game and youth development. The soccer culture mentioned by Klinsmann is equally crucial. Many clubs in China have begun to focus on the cultivation of soccer culture, but I think there is still a long way to go, and we must integrate soccer culture into the league and the game.
Further questions from CNA:
The German national team has always been able to produce a steady stream of talent, so what are the unique features of Germany in training children to participate in soccer? Are there any shortcomings in the development of our national team and have they been improved?
Klinsmann replied:
The environment is very important. You will be drawn to try the sport by leagues, friends, and neighbors. If all the kids around you are playing soccer, you can easily be driven. Table tennis is very popular in my country, so it's normal that you will play table tennis. I grew up in a soccer environment, so I love soccer.
I have lived in the United States for more than 20 years and quite a few kids there love basketball and many can play it. Therefore, there needs to be the right environment for the game of soccer for people to be a part of it, to love it and enjoy it so that the program will be promoted.
Mingyu Ma elaborated further:
Since the Ministry of Education and other six departments began to promote youth school soccer in 2015, the popularity of soccer in schools has been reached. But elite training is not enough, and the number of good coaches needed for this segment is far from enough. One good change this year is that the National School Football League will be implemented. Through the popularization of school soccer, and then further deepen to elite training, the level of soccer in China will be greatly improved in a few years.
CNA is concerned:
At present, many Chinese super clubs suffered an existential crisis, the league and the national team are in the doldrums. How to look at this phenomenon, and how to get out of the trough?
Klinsmann analyzed:
This is a learning curve that many countries have experienced when developing the game of soccer: spending too much money on players and sparing no expense when bringing in foreign aid. But then, on the whole, the results were not satisfactory.
The development of soccer has its ups and downs. Major League Soccer, for example, has been around for 26 years now, and they made many mistakes in the beginning, with some clubs closing down as a result, before developing step by step into what they are today. The English Premier League was not always the top international league either, they have come a long way; Ma Mingyu played in Serie A. In the early 1990's, it was the top international league, and great players such as Maradona and Gullit played there.
Soccer can only be played with multiple supports, including the national level, the league level, the facilities and the youth training, etc. The most important of these is to make the Chinese Super League stable and focused. Among them, it is most important for the Chinese Super League to become stable and stay focused. 3 years ago, I was lucky enough to be in my country to watch a very good Chinese Super League game, and I believe they can find some kind of balance. I believe they can find some kind of balance. By learning from each year, the Chinese Super League will start to move in the right direction.
Ma Mingyu added:
When talking about "gold dollar soccer" in China, many responsibilities and problems are put on the capital investment and investors, which is not entirely correct. We should expect the market to improve and more investors who love soccer to participate. Our soccer is on a path of exploration, so do not be afraid of encountering problems. We must face up to the problems and seek changes to make the league better and better.
Question by CNA:
Klinsmann was in our country in 2019, what were the impressions? In what areas can our soccer and German soccer further develop their cooperation?
Klinsmann replied:
Every cooperation between the Bundesliga and the Chinese Super League is a great opportunity, especially at youth level. The more we communicate with each other, the more ideas and solutions to problems there are. It's great that the Bundesliga has an office in our country, which will bring more opportunities for communication between the two countries.
I was very impressed by my trip to my country three years ago, I had a great time and saw a lot of kids playing soccer. Compared to that time, I believe that soccer in my country has changed rapidly. As the soccer infrastructure improves, our national team will become stronger. Although our team was unlucky this time and failed to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar, the World Cup in four years' time is the goal of our team. All this is conditional on more kids going to play soccer.
Ma Mingyu further added:
There have been many Chinese players playing in Germany, the most successful one is Yang Chen who plays for Frankfurt. German soccer youth training is very solid, I sincerely hope that both sides can deepen the communication between the youth, which will help our country's soccer.
German soccer style is pragmatic and concise, prudent teamwork, deep history, especially in the competition, when in trouble, good at playing "against the wind". What our country's soccer should learn most is the spiritual dimension of German soccer.
CNA is concerned:
How many of our players are currently playing in Europe? What is Klinsmann's advice for our players to stay in Europe?
Klinsmann replied:
Many people say that not scoring goals or not being a starter means that you have failed to stay at home, but I don't think so. I don't think so. Staying abroad is a good thing and there is no such thing as "failure". For players, staying abroad is a long learning process, not only in soccer, but also in personal growth. Living in a different culture and speaking a different language is a great challenge and brings different experiences. As long as you have the opportunity to stay abroad, you should try it.
