There are those moments that can break or deepen a relationship.
Benjamin Pavard was frustrated and angry at Bayern Munich in autumn 2021. After an ankle injury, he was not nominated for the national team.
He blamed his own club and felt the club hadn’t let him go.
Dino Toppmöller, who had only been an assistant coach with the German record champions for a few months at the time, took the necessary time for an interview. The new coach from Eintracht Frankfurt revealed at his introductory press conference on SPORT1 demand: “Benjamin was alone in the dressing room. I slowed him down a bit and explained the club’s point of view on this topic. The French language helped me a lot to find access to the player.”
As SPORT1 knows, the language factor played an important role in the discussions with sports director Markus Krösche for the commitment in the Main metropolis.
At Pavard, this quality was a can opener, as Toppmöller explained: “Trust doesn’t come from the start. That only builds up when you realize there is someone with empathy and understanding for a situation.” The relationship was deepened, a deep rift in the sensitive structure prevented.
The proud Frenchman Pavard was able to converse in his native language, which was a great advantage and calmed things down. Toppmöller remained the point of contact for the defensive all-rounder in the future.
Pavard said in an exclusive SPORT1 interview about the close relationship: “We exchange ideas very often. And he’s someone who, even after a good game, says to me: ‘You played well, but you could have done this and that better.’ I like that a lot because I’m very self-critical and always want to improve myself.”
At Eintracht, Toppmöller will also have an advantage with this knowledge of the language if he can exchange ideas more closely with star Randal Kolo Muani and midfield talent Junior Dina Ebimbe, if he can hug them in a difficult phase.
Toppmöller has always opened its door for requests. Communication with the professionals is extremely important to him, he wants to be there for his players.
Anyone who has worked with top players in Munich and got to know their strengths and weaknesses at first hand brings valuable experience with them – even if this has only happened in the assistant role so far.
But Pavard’s appreciative words, they will also have fallen on fertile ground with those responsible for Eintracht.
2023-07-08 03:43:04
#Bundesliga #special #connection #Pavard #Toppmöller
