“You should already know where the players are playing”
DFB opponent reprimands reporters
October 9, 2025 – 11:09 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Before the game against Germany, Luxembourg coach Jeff Strasser and midfielder Leandro Barreiro answered questions from journalists. One of them didn’t suit the player.
Before the game against Germany, Luxembourg’s best was already in an attacking mood. Leandro Barreiro sat on the podium in Sinsheim with his coach Jeff Strasser at the matchday press conference on Thursday and answered questions from journalists before what was probably the biggest game in the recent past of the country of 680 inhabitants.
Barreiro is by far the most valuable player in coach Strasser’s squad. The portal “transfermarkt.de” estimates its market value at 15 million euros.
The 25-year-old midfielder played for FSV Mainz between 2016 and 2024, made his Bundesliga debut there in 2019 and played a total of 151 competitive games for Rheinhessen. A little over a year ago he moved to Champions League club Benfica Lisbon, where José Mourinho has recently been his coach.
When the former FSV Mainz 05 professional didn’t like the approach of a reporter in the question-and-answer session, Barreiro quickly answered a question that had been asked of his coach.
The question that struck Barreiro a bit badly was about his – less well-known – teammates and the quality of the Luxembourg squad: “Barreiro is a seasoned player, do you have a lot of guys like that in your team?” Strasser initially answered them patiently and in detail.
Then Barreiro suddenly turned to the reporter and had to say something else: “Very briefly, to add: If you come to a press conference and analyze the opponent or ask questions, then you should already know where the players on the opposing team are playing or at what level they are playing.”
And further: “The coach shouldn’t do that by naming the players and the clubs. That’s just for next time.” The reporter took the small rebuke with humor and promised to be better prepared next time.