| | - Vi matchede de andre hold bedre i år Nike Cup 3. maj 2010 - 13:38 af: Christian Møller Træner Søren Juul ser tilbage på Nike Premier Cup 2010 Søren Juul, træner for AGFs U-15, konstaterer dagen efter turneringens afslutning, at AGF i år klarede sig bedre end sidste år, hvor Søren også stod i spidsen for AGFs hold i Nike Cup. AGF blev nr. 7 af 20 hold. - Vi matchede de andre hold meget bedre. Det var tydeligt, at vi profiterede af, at vi havde nogle spillere, som havde erfaring fra sidste års deltagelse. Vi arbejdede godt som hold, var klar og holdt fokus.
- Spillerne synes selv, at de her kunne indse, hvor vigtigt det er at være 100 procent koncentrerede. På topniveau er der så lidt tid og rum.
På spørgsmålet om, hvad Søren har fået af inspiration og impulser under turneringen, nævner han: - Det var interessant at se, at FC Porto, som var et meget stærkt mandskab, arbejder ud fra en stram organisation. I øvrigt spillede stort set alle hold med en 4-3-3 formation - tankevækkende. I AGF har vi frihed til at spille hvilket system, der passer bedst til spillerne. Jeg har ingen intentioner om at gå væk fra vores 4-4-2.
Eftertanker fra øvrige holds trænere (på engelsk, citeret fra premiercupmedia.com)
Buscapor's Huseyin Eroglu was delighted at his team's performance: "I am so very proud - we have played well and enjoyed a wonderful experience here. Winning the title and a place in Manchester makes it just perfect. I would like to congratulate the organisation - and all the teams for a quality tournament. Playing at a high international level like this helps the development of all our young players a great deal. If I could save and replay just one moment again - it would be this one - the second we realised we had actually become the Premier Cup Champions of Europe!"
Porto's Luis Castro admitted: "Although I believe that we were the best team, and am incredibly proud of our performance throughout the tournament, giving 100% effort, commitment and concentration - we just didn't get that little bit of luck on the day - but that?s football. We're looking forward to travelling to Manchester and extending the experience we have had here of meeting some of the best teams in Europe."
The bronze match earlier in the afternoon was also a nail biting affair - between Danish Premier Cup Champions Brondby IF and FC Bravo, a youth sports club from Slovenia founded only four years ago. Both teams scored early in the first half and held each other at bay in normal time - again taking the match to penalty kicks. Bravo held their nerve and won through, and Coach Tomaz Petrovic was elated: "We really didn't expect that we could do so well and compete and hold our own at this level. The boys have shown incredible character to adapt as required and continue to play at the highest level throughout the tournament. We will enjoy the moment but I'm already looking forward to going home and starting our preparations to try to get back here next year!"
FC Zurich impressed many with their stylish play throughout the tournament, finishing above sixth place Norwegian team Rommen SK - Coach Thomas Engbretsen: "The most impressive thing here for me has actually been the whole ?fair play? mentality of all the teams. At such an important tournament ? with so much pressure to do well and the opportunity to play in the MUPC World Finals at Manchester United - I really did not expect all the teams to play to the spirit of "fair play!"
Many teams commented on the possibility for players to learn from each other but Gabor Kesedi from Hungarian team Vasas Academy who finished the tournament in 8th position also commented on the opportunity for coaching staff to interact and observe coaches with a different philosophy. "Watching and speaking to the Coach from Bucaspor for example has reinforced my intention to learn to control my emotions. I need to stay more calm when coaching from the sidelines - be calm, quiet and in control - and reinforce only positive things to the players."
Legia Warsaw's Bernard Kapuscinksi relished the opportunity to measure his young team against the best teams in Europe, "This has helped them realise what they need to do to reach the next level - ie to learn to concentrate for the full match and keep focused until the final whistle blows - ready to fight and make the best of every opportunity. Now they realised how important it is to keep fit, focused and ready to make the most of every opportunity to score!"
Russia's Denis Malkov from 15th place Konoplev YP commented on a common thread - that teams arriving at this level of competition rarely lose at home - so learning how to deal with losing a match for the first time can be challenging. He also felt that his players needed to learn to fight more on the pitch - no matter how easy the opposition is to overcome: "The experience here has illustrated that we need to fight more on the pitch - it's difficult for the players when we win our matches at home so easily - not to become complacent and still maintain their passion and fight to win - but that's something we really need to work on because other teams here have that ALL the time."
A 19th place finish is not what Austria's BNZ Tirol are used to but Ewald Kofler still values the experience Premier Cup will give to his young side: "It has been a good lesson for the team because it has proven the high standard of other young players across Europe. So now they know the level of competition and that if they want to become professional footballers they need to dedicate themselves and work more and more." | |