- FC Nürnberg has another star - and many "Club" fans wanted to see him at the start of training. Around 1200 spectators gathered at the pitch as Miroslav Klose gave his first commands on the grass for the first time in the season preparation, under shining sun.
Soccer - Klose at FCN: "Not a messiah", but a beacon of hope
"That was a wonderful start", praised Germany's record scorer and World Cup winner of 2014 after the first training session of the season preparation.
"We want to be close to the fans", said Klose on Monday evening. The 46-year-old immediately sensed that there's a lot going on at "Club". He also noticed that the expectations around the traditional club are growing rapidly.
When asked about possible promotion dreams, Klose let out an "oje" and explained: "I'm not talking about promotion. The goal we have internally in the club, we'll tell the team. But it's definitely not promotion - and that would be wrong", said Klose. The previous season ended in twelfth place.
Promotion? "We need a foundation"
He doesn't want to slow things down, but rather find a middle ground between excitement and patience. Evolution is Klose's approach. "I understand the euphoria. I see what's going on here, that the club has many enthusiastic fans. That's nice. But we need a foundation, that will be the most important thing", said the successor of Cristian Fiel who joined Hertha BSC.
New sports manager Joti Chatzialexiou is pleased that the Klose deal is going so positively. "We haven't earned a point yet - and there's so much going on. That shows the power of this club." But he also sounded a note of caution. "Miro is not the Messiah."
Signs in the Hotel
Klose and Chatzialexiou are currently intensely discussing things. Both still live in the hotel right next to the training ground, which leads to short distances and long evenings. "We're giving each other signals", joked Chatzialexiou. During dinner, they put their heads together. The squad is not yet complete, as some key players are still missing. "We still have two months, a lot will still happen", said Chatzialexiou.
Things are already happening: The Czech midfielder Michal Sevcik (21) from Sparta Prag was the next new signing on the pitch on Monday. And the 18-year-old Stefanos Tzimas from Greek champion PAOK Saloniki is also coming on loan.
"We need to build on young, hungry players. I could show the youngster the way the club intends to go. We can inspire these players", said Klose. The former world-class striker Klose is expected to be a mentor for a promising striker like Tzimas.
"I like having the ball"
Klose has time until the league start in early August to familiarize the team with his playing style. "I stand for ball possession. I like having the ball, a certain dominant playing style", said the new coach. "Every friendly match, every training session will help us progress." Klose's expectations of himself and his players are high. "The first training session was a bit hectic, clumsy", summarized the new star at Valznerweiher: "But that's completely normal at the beginning. Everyone wants to show themselves, everyone wants to prove themselves. And then a training session looks like that."
Statement on SevcikFinal table 2. League 2023/24 FCN squad The trainers of 1. FC Nürnberg since 1963
- Miroslav Klose, the Bearer of hope for 1st FC Nuremberg, began his first training session under the shining sun in Bavaria, Germany, where he's set to shape the Bundesliga 2 team.
- Michal Sevcik, a promising young midfielder from Sparta Prag, reinforced the 1st FC Nuremberg squad, joining under the guidance of Miroslav Klose, who graced the German lawn.
- Joti Chatzialexiou expressed satisfaction with the Klose deal, praising the power of the traditional German club, while emphasizing that Miroslav Klose, a World Cup winner, is not the Messiah but rather a mentor for the club's promising recruits.
- Stefanos Tzimas, an 18-year-old striker from Greek champion PAOK Saloniki, is on loan to 1st FC Nuremberg, where he will be guided by the former world-class striker, Miroslav Klose.
- Klose, the successor of Cristian Fiel, aims to foster a mentorship role for young, hungry players like Tzimas, preparing them for the dominant playing style he champions - ball possession.
- With the 2023/24 Bundesliga 2 season still months away, 1st FC Nuremberg will undergo numerous training sessions and friendly matches under the guidance of Miroslav Klose, who believes these early encounters will positively contribute to the team's development.
