“I grew up in the brewery”

Niklas Dorsch led the German U21s to the European Championship in the summer before moving to FC Augsburg. In an interview with SPOX and Goal, the 23-year-old midfielder remembers his time at Bayern, remembers working with Guardiola and Ancelotti – and makes a promise to his grandmother.

Mr Dorsch, your grandmother attracted attention across Germany with a video message before the U21 European Championship final. How did you react to your move to FC Augsburg?

Niklas Dorsch: First and foremost, she was happy that I was playing in Germany again and that I was closer to her. When I was back home in the summer, I stopped by her inn and had something cooked for me.

Did you often visit as a child?

Cod: Yes, I used to help my grandma on a regular basis. At that time she also had a brewery; I grew up in the brewery, so to speak. A few years ago, however, the brewery was no longer operated, since then it has only been an inn.

Do you know how to brew beer?

Cod: No. But I’m not a big beer drinker either.

Could you imagine working as a host after your football career?

Cod: If grandma then needs a host, I’m ready, of course. I could imagine that. But first, I’ll focus on football.

Currently at FC Augsburg. You were one of the leading players at the U21 European Championship, do you already feel that you are in that role at your new club?

Cod: First of all, it was important to me to get to know the processes and fellow players. It was clear to me that it wouldn’t work overnight. The leadership role automatically comes more and more over time.

Shortly after you, your U21 colleague Arne Maier also moved to Augsburg. Did you play a role in the move?

Cod: The club wanted to sign him independently of me. When the interest became concrete, we spoke briefly on the phone. He asked me how it was going. But I couldn’t contribute much because I had only arrived in Augsburg two days beforehand.

Your former U21 national coach Stefan Kuntz is now the Turkish national coach. They once praised him for his speeches. What distinguishes him in this regard?

Cod: He stands out from other coaches with his emotionality. Shortly before the game, it’s important not to be tactical, but rather emotional. He’s excellent at that. He always finds the right words.

Niklas Dorsch on his time at FC Bayern Munich

Your first professional coach at FC Bayern was Pep Guardiola, he let you train for the first time in 2015 at the age of 17. What are your memories of it?

Cod: I was excited but luckily Guardiola was the coach. He treats a 16 year old the same as a 32 year old. He treats everyone equally and wants to help everyone equally. I found that amazing. If something wasn’t good, he would come up to you immediately and seek a one-on-one interview. It was a little unfortunate that I stepped on Sebastian Rode’s foot during my first training session and he tore his ligaments in the process. It was then down for a few weeks.

How did he react to that?

Cod: I immediately apologized to him. He took it calmly and didn’t blame me. He knew how committed you are as a young player when you first train with the pros.

Have you blamed yourself?

Cod: No. If I thought like that, I would be wrong in football. I didn’t have a guilty conscience.

Which Bayern players took on talents like you back then?

Cod: My first point of contact were younger players like Joshua Kimmich. But Mats Hummels and Thomas Müller also took care of them.

Guardiola left the club in 2016 and was succeeded by Carlo Ancelotti. How did you experience it in comparison?

Cod: Ancelotti did less tactically. When in doubt, he relies on experience rather than young players. His tenure was the phase during which I trained the least with the pros and hardly played a role. I had less interaction with Ancelotti than with Guardiola.

Niklas Dorsch: An overview of his professional stations

In 2018 you switched from FC Bayern to 1. FC Heidenheim at the age of 20.

Cod: My contract has expired and I decided early on to change. At that time I trained above under Jupp Heynckes, but only played with the reserve in the regional league. I wanted to compete in a higher league.

Did you start pondering after your first competitive game including your first goal in April?

Cod: No, I wasn’t brooding, I was pursuing my long-term plan. At that time, the club tried to talk again. But I blocked everything and signaled that I did not want to extend it. Then the topic was ticked off relatively quickly.

How did you experience sports director Hasan Salihamidzic during these talks?

Cod: I didn’t have a conversation with him, all of that was done by my advisor. I just wanted to play soccer and not worry about anything else. At that age I wasn’t able to communicate such a decision myself. So it is helpful to have an advisor.

Niklas Dorsch on the playoff system in Belgium

You once said that Jerome Boateng advised you to move from Heidenheim to KAA Gent in 2020. Are you still in contact with many former Bayern colleagues?

Cod: No, hardly any more. Actually only when you meet at games. The story with Boateng came about back then because we have a mutual group of friends.

In Belgium, the championship is played with a playoff system. How did you find that?

Cod: The way it is in Germany, it is better. Here everyone plays against everyone twice and in the end the best team comes first and the worst comes last. In Belgium you can be the best team all year round and finish fourth. You don’t really need to play beforehand.

Such a model is being discussed in Germany to end the supposed monotony with the long-term champions FC Bayern. Do you find the Bundesliga boring?

Cod: This is my first time in the Bundesliga. For me it is anything but boring, but the most exciting year of my career so far.