Interview: "School and football fit together" -- Bayern Amateur Youth Player Patrick Puchegger

Patrick Puchegger, 20, who has been playing for Bayern Munich II, Austria national under 19 and under 20 squads, has the following interview with Xinhua on sport and school, injury and training, individual competition and teamwork.

Xinhua: Millions of youngsters around the world dream of becoming a professional footballer. We all know it's no easy. You've gone through some tough times after suffering ruptured cruciate ligaments in the middle of July last year. How long does it take to return to full fitness?

Puchegger: We're talking about seven to eight months . . .

Xinhua: . . . that sounds like ages - did you at any time think your dream was over?

Puchegger: It's none too pleasant when something like that happens. But there are many examples of other - even older footballers - that came back. But it's a long time - you're right - and you have to be patient and keep working hard which is tough when you see your colleagues running around outside whist you're lifting weights or something similar.

Xinhua: Did you talk to other players that had suffered a similar injury?

Puchegger: Sebastian Rode, the midfielder in the senior squad went through something similar. He told me that it's not the end and that that you can come back and play for many years. It was a great help when you're down in the dumps. At first, you hope it's nothing serious but then you realize the full extent after all the medical examinations. That's a moment when your head is awash with thoughts.

Xinhua: So it helps when you see other players that have recovered from such an injury?

Puchegger: You think about other players that have returned and it tells you, it's not the end.

Xinhua: How did the injury happen?

Puchegger: I had the ball - two opponents around me - one in front and one behind. I stopped and then stepped forward and my knee somehow bent inwards. That was it.

Xinhua: What about your thoughts? Do young players prepare themselves in any way for such an injury?

Puchegger: You don`t think about it. I never had any problems before. You can`t prepare. What you do is: You think about the situation and try to imagine what to do best. What would have been the better solution for a particular situation. In my case the solution was: Maybe pass the ball quicker.

Xinhua: Meaning you could avoid such injuries - many young players want to know?

Puchegger: Injuries - no matter which - are part and parcel of sports. You can get a similar injury when you walk downstairs at home. In sports, you have to get over it in your head - you just have to. Otherwise you won`t be the same as before. And it'd mean you won't go as far in football, or other sports, as you want. The most important thing is to get moral support and really want to get back playing. You have to realize that it's not the end especially when considering the medical possibilities we have today.

Xinhua: Do you now - after the injury - take better care of your body?

Puchegger: Playing for a club such as Bayern Munich you learn that every day, but after an injury like this, you learn there's always something more you can do. Learning to listen to your body is something very important. I've learnt a lot through the injury, that's the positive thing about it. You learn maybe a bit more that your body is your most valuable asset. So always warm up thoroughly and be patient when you're injured.

Xinhua: Injuries, you say, happen - is it vital for young players that you have an alternative if things don't work out - meaning one besides sports or football?

Puchegger: Every young footballer should bear in mind that they might fail and they should finish school. Take me, I'm now 20 and will try over the next two, three to four years to make it. If I don´t make it here at Bayern with its world class squad, I can still play in other top teams. Playing football is not only work and sweat, it's fun, it's something that gives me a great deal because it's a team sport. It might be hard sometimes to combine school and training but I don´t regret anything. Playing football is a passion for and it's something that gives me deep satisfaction.

Xinhua: Is it possible to move up from amateur to professional football without receiving professional coaching? For example: Can one become a professional simply by watching top level football videos, learning and thinking about the secrets of football philosophy, skills and tactics and by training oneself?

Puchegger: All you mentioned is something young footballers should do - but doing just that does not get you anywhere without many years of training with a team. Football is not a video-game - it's something you do with all your body and mind. But being tactically aware or listening to the experiences of others is a must. I love to think about tactics as a team, it gives you an idea as well of how you yourself have to work within a team. It helps you to be at a club as a youngster when you can watch the senior team - you can learn a lot. That's especially easy in Munich with such an outstanding world class squad.

Xinhua: What brought you to Bayern Munich and what has happened to the other players in your first team at Bayern?

Puchegger: One is playing in Salzburg in the first division in Austria, one in Karlsruhe in the second division in Germany, others in the second or third divisions in other countries.

Xinhua: And what brought you to Bayern?

Puchegger: I was in a football academy in Austria and at the age of 18, players have to find a club themselves. My manager was in contact with Bayern and I had a three day trial which went well and I started to play in Bayern's U-19 team.

Xinhua: What positions do you play?

Puchegger: As far as Bayern Munich is concerned, I've basically played at left back - for the Austrian U-20s as a central defender.

Xinhua: Is there a player at Bayern you admire more than others?

Puchegger: I have deep respect for David Alaba . . . .

Xinhua: Because he is Austrian too?

Puchegger: (laughing) Got me. No, it is a bit of patriotism but in general, I deeply respect the way he moved from Austria to the second team and then onto the senior team at Bayern. He is what you call a shining example for all of us youngsters dreaming of a professional career.

Xinhua: Do you think that some special medical care should be made available for amateur players who get injuries from playing?

Puchegger: I know many players that study alongside playing football - maybe not in a team like Bayern Munich, but in other teams. It is possible to get an education and train at the same time. I was at first in the academy at the Austrian club St. Poelden. I started at the 14 along with around 300 others. We had a school education and coaching. It was great because it was all in one building. It tells you a lot about a club when that club is investing in its juniors. School and sports is about time management and a strong will.

As for insurance policies: In my case I have one for me personally. When it comes to medical care, my health insurance helps as does the club. So we have a good system in Austria and Germany. If you don't have a system that takes care of sportsmen too, it might be an idea to set up one.

Xinhua: What differences are there in the Bayern academy and the one in Austria?

Puchegger: The one in Austria was much bigger but contained players of a much younger age too. I was 14, as I said, when I went there and my parents lived about a 40-minute drive away. I came to Munich at an older age, at about 17 to 18. Everyone has his own room and kitchen. You learn to care for yourself, get support for the school or info about what you should eat.

Xinhua: What do young footballers eat at best - Pizza or Bejing roast duck and two kilos of rice?

Puchegger: (laughing) No unfortunately not, but it sounds good. No, or not many carbohydrates in the evening, a lot of vegetables and salad.

Xinhua: David Alaba was the last of the former Bayern youngsters that made it into the senior team. The club is restructuring his youth department with new coaches and a new academy because the number of players that came through wasn't satisfying in the last years. Just a few days ago Holger Badstuber said that in his opinion some youth players are too easygoing meaning they don't do enough to succeed. What do you think?

Puchegger: There are many different characters and I can only tell you there are some guys who do more and some that do less. But of course you learn an immense amount at Bayern but it might be a little bit harder to make it at Bayern considering the outstanding quality of the first team squad. Just look at the names of the players we have.

Xinhua: One possible thing would be for a young player to join another club - let's say on loan and come back - Philipp Lahm did something like that at the beginning of his career.

Puchegger: Alaba was in Hoffenheim for some time, Toni Kroos in Leverkusen before they came back - it is important to get as many games as you can, to get as much match experience as possible. If you don't get it here, get it somewhere else, but try to play games. Nothing beats playing games in football.

Xinhua: Now the maybe most important question: Have you got any advice for young Chinese footballers for the best way to make it to the top?

Puchegger: (laughing) Uhhh that is a big responsibility. Never give up and invest a lot - that's especially important when you go through a day that doesn't seem to be going too well. Every day is a part of your future development.

Xinhua: Ok, next hard one: So football training and school or education no doubt fit together?

Puchegger: Now I am serious right from the start. I know many players that study alongside playing football - maybe not in a team like Bayern Munich, but in other teams. It is possible to get an education and train at the same time. I was at first in the academy at the Austrian club St. Poelden. I started at the 14 along with around 300 others. We had a school education and coaching. It was great because it was all in one building. It tells you a lot about a club when that club is investing in its juniors. School and sports is about time management and a strong will. Endit