Coach Antonio di Salvo does not want to commit himself to a fixed captain and a clear number one in his “new” U21 immediately before the start of the European Championship qualification.
“It was easier for the past times, so I want to keep it open. First of all, I am about getting to know the boys,” said the 46-year-old before the home game against Latvia on Tuesday (8:30 p.m./Sat.1) in the Rostock Baltic Sea Stadium.
And after the 2-0 in Albania on Friday, when Di Salvo rotated completely down to one position and gave every field player, “not all positions yet. I need a night to get a feeling.” The five vice European champions (Elias Baum, Lukas Ullrich, Brajan Gruda, Nelson Weiper and Nicoló Tresoldi) have “definitely this little lead – and yet they have to show themselves again,” said Di Salvo.
The goal in the EM qualification is clear: “Win every game and give everything,” said defender Finn Jeltsch from VfB Stuttgart, second young player in the squad. “But it is also clear that we have to improve”, at the test victory in Albania at the EM host 2027 (together with Serbia) was “not everything optimal”, said Di Salvo-and promised: “We will be better tomorrow.”
The coach personally can hardly wait for his return to old place of work. “There is a big connection to the people, to the region, to the club,” said Di Salvo. From 2001 to 2006 the former striker “had an incredibly nice time”, “the most formative of my Bundesliga career. I am totally happy to be able to play an international match here as a coach.” According to the DFB, around 7,500 tickets have already been sold in advance.