Mainz (dpa) – The Mainz sports director Martin Schmidt is enthusiastic about the first-time national team nomination of his professional Anton Stach.
“If you think that 18, 19 months ago he was still in the fourth division. Then a year in the 2nd Bundesliga, now the Bundesliga, now the national team. You can see what potential the boy has. Realized potential, he used it , Flick saw it, package put together, now he’s in the German team. It fits, doesn’t it?” said Schmidt after Mainz’s 4-0 win over Arminia Bielefeld, which Stach missed with a yellow card.
Stach himself said that he got lost twice after the call from national coach Hansi Flick because he was so excited. Official Schmidt talked about many conversations in the summer when Stach switched from Greuther Fürth to the 05ers and thus dared to jump into the top German league.
“You talk a lot: Take the first step before the second and switch to a club where I know: I’ll play there. After two or three years you can then take the next step. Anton was well advised by them Parents and advisors,” said Schmidt. In Mainz, the 23-year-old Stach recently showed strong performances in central midfield.