Three takeaways from the Thomas Broich interview

Thomas Broich, BVB's youth academy sporting director, shares his forward-thinking approach to player development.
Broich joined BVB from Hertha BSC in July 2024
Broich joined BVB from Hertha BSC in July 2024 | Ronny Hartmann/GettyImages
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Encourage risk-taking

Prince Aning, Shea Charles
Manchester City v Borussia Dortmund - UEFA Youth League | Charlotte Tattersall/GettyImages

Every kid wants to play like Musiala or Wirtz. If you're a bit older, you may have watched highlight reels of Ronaldinho and Diego growing up. But what is it about these players that fascinates us so much? It's that they move with absolute freedom; they're "at play" when they are out on that pitch. They try things without fear of losing the ball or embarrassing themselves. This is what both coaches and parents need to continue to encourage.

That creative flair/magic isn't just a birthright for Brazilians. It is something every kid has within them, but a lot of the time, it's coached out of them along with the pressures of becoming a professional. Youngsters end up shooting LESS, they use the outside of their foot LESS, and they take on their defender even LESS. As a result, a fear of failure is bred, which is a growing problem in Germany, specifically.

Not every player will turn out to be a Musiala or Wirtz, and they don't have to. That's not the point. What's most important is to keep the game fun. If a player messes up a pass or a 1v1, he should have the mentality of "I can't yet" instead of a deflated "I can't".

When it comes to having players make that big jump to the first team, look at what Athletic Bilbao, Ajax, or Benfica are doing. River Plate and Boca Juniors have also put in phenomenal work over the years.