Fürther winter access
“Tobias is an ambitious, young player who has great potential and would like to develop further with us,” said Fürth’s coach Stefan Leitl in the past winter transfer period in connection with the signing of Tobias Raschl (22). The midfielder came from Borussia Dortmund for 100,000 euros and signed a contract until 2024. Since then, the Düsseldorf native has played four games in which he was on the field for 173 minutes. For comparison: For BVB, where Raschl received a professional contract in 2019 and from then on was a member of the first team, he played 25 minutes in a game. “It was just time to go,” said Raschl in an interview with “Spox“ and “Goal” about his departure from Dortmund.
His contract there would have originally expired at the end of the season. “It’s difficult to gain a foothold with the pros (from Borussia Dortmund; ed.),” admitted the former junior international. “Especially when exceptional talents, brought in from abroad for a lot of money, join the team. They are then more likely to be counted on and you are just the youth player, so to speak. That is also somewhat understandable, because these players are really top class and bring a lot with them.” Raschl therefore mainly gained match practice in the reserves in the 3rd division. In the current season he has made 22 appearances there (three goals/three assists). “It shouldn’t sound disrespectful, but it was never my intention to play in the second team,” said the right-footer. “Especially since I was often told that I can, should and must play higher. I trust myself to do that too.”
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The midfielder has been repeatedly associated with a departure from Dortmund in recent years. While “Bild” reported in winter 2019 that FC Bayern, Bayer 04 and Borussia Mönchengladbach were courting the youngster, he is said to have been one of the candidates for a loan deal the following year. As Raschl confirmed, at the time he was “about to be loaned to a second division club”. Because of an injury “at a stupid time” he stayed in Dortmund. In the summer of 2021 there were “one or the other option” for a departure, including Greuther Fürth, but Raschl held a conversation with reserve coach Enrico Maassen again at BVB. Because “it didn’t work out with the pros, there was basically in every transfer window the consideration of how things should go with me,” Raschl explained the recurring transfer rumors.
Raschl on BVB farewell: “Physically I just wasn’t ready yet”
As a reason for the missed breakthrough at BVB, Raschl addressed not only the competitive situation in his position but also his playing style at the time. “They wanted me to become more disgusting and tougher, especially in duels. That was the big issue. I’m a very nice player who doesn’t just slip away and should bring in more mentality and ego.” Although this has “improved” over time, it has had no effect on his chances of playing with the professionals. “I also have to say that physically I wasn’t quite that far back then and was more of a youth player,” he admitted.
In Fürth he was in the starting XI twice in a row because Paul Seguin (27) is currently suffering from a torn muscle fibre. The latter will move to Union Berlin on a free transfer after this season, which is why Raschl could play a bigger role in the coming season. Sports Managing Director Rachid Azzouzi told the “BR“Recently that the ex-Dortmunder was brought in in anticipation of Seguin’s departure. “You (Greuther Fürth; ed.) have shown a clear interest in me. The exchange with those responsible was excellent and the opportunity to play in the Bundesliga was my dream,” said Raschl about his transfer. “From the summer, my goal is to play through an entire season and get as many appearances as possible in order to prove myself at this high level.”
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