Zorniger warns: ‘Then I will be a nightmare for you’

Lasse Vøge, sports editor

There is a new sheriff in Odense.

On Saturday afternoon, top German coach Alexander Zorniger walked into Odense Stadium with his chest outstretched, while proclaiming in Danish ‘Good day, I’m back!’

Shortly afterwards, he was introduced as the new OB head coach. The smiles were big, but when questions from the press in attendance began to affect his reputation as a coach who is reluctant to use young Danish players, Zorniger became firm.

During his time in Brøndby, he managed to field a team consisting only of foreign players.

Photo: Jens B'ttner/AP/Ritzau Scanpix Show more Photo: Jens B'ttner/AP/Ritzau Scanpix

But that was primarily due to the attitude of the young Danish players, Zorniger emphasized at the bar table at Odense Stadium.

»I am a nightmare for young Danish players who think that just being young is an entry ticket to becoming a Premier League player.« 

»Anyone who has spent more than a cup of coffee looking at my history knows that I love using young players. Not because they look better than me, but because they meet the requirements of my playing style.« 

Zorniger stressed that for his OB project he needs young lungs that can run a horse until it is tired. And young players who can absorb his orders ‘like a kitchen sponge’.

»If you are 31-32 years old, and everyone in your career has told you to run to the right – and then a ‘very good looking’ German coach comes along and says you should run to the left. What do you do then? You run to the right, because that is what you have always done.«

»So I need young players with an empty hard drive. And if they doubt me, I can just say ‘call Morten Frendrup’. Listen to me, and you can take the next step,” Alexander Zorniger said in a loud voice and a small slap on the table.

“So to all young players in Denmark, come to Odense. And we will develop you. But if you are lazy, stay far away.”

Training starts in OB on June 14.

There is a new sheriff in Odense.

On Saturday afternoon, top German coach Alexander Zorniger walked into Odense Stadium with his chest thrust out, proclaiming in Danish ‘Good day, I’m back!’

Shortly afterwards, he was presented as the new OB head coach. The smiles were big, but when questions from the press in attendance began to touch on his reputation as a coach who is reluctant to use young Danish players, Zorniger became firm.

During his time at Brøndby, he managed to field a team consisting only of foreign players.

But it was primarily due to the attitude of the young Danish players, emphasized Zorniger at the bar table at Odense Stadium.

“I am a nightmare for young Danish players who think that just being young acts as an entry ticket to becoming a Premier League player.” 

“Anyone who has spent more than a cup of coffee looking at my history knows that I love using young players. Not because they look better than me, but because they meet the requirements of my playing style.” 

Zorniger emphasized that for his OB project he needs young lungs that can run a tired horse. And young players that can absorb his orders ‘like a kitchen sponge’.

“If you’re 31-32 years old and everyone in your career has told you to run to the right – and then a ‘very good looking’ German coach comes along and says you should run to the left. What do you do? You run to the right, because that’s what you’ve always done.”

“So I need young players with an empty hard drive. And if they doubt me, I can just say ‘call Morten Frendrup’. Listen to me, and you can take the next step,” Alexander Zorniger said in a loud voice and a small slap on the table.

“So to all young players in Denmark, come to Odense. And we will develop you. But if you are lazy, stay far away.”

Training starts in OB on June 14th.

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