Interview with Reinhard Saftig about the Scoutingsystem of the BVB:
The ' trainer ' Reinhard Saftig should be to most BVB-Fans, above all the older under you, known without doubts. Unforgotten participates especially the successfully disputed expulsion-games against Fortuna Cologne under his performance. After his trainer-time with Bayer Leverkusen, it has become quieter about him. Only through the spectacular obligation of Tomas Rosicky moved also his name in connection with the occupation-name ' Chefscout ' into the gaze-point again. Therefore he tries to introduce his future-oriented and rather unknown purview to Schwatzgelb near. Also because his activity can be occasionally crucial for the well-being of BVB-Fans, as the heated discussions prove year for year over possible new transfers...Schwatzgelb: Are you especially pleased about the present wonderful performances of a Tomas Rosicky, Mr. Saftig?
Reinhard Saftig: Yes, with his outstanding performances, I also personally participate very content. Finally, the Transfer of Tomas Rosicky was for me always a hug-issue. And that it has worked out so quickly with his integration, was even for us a little surprise. Because he has brought very good performances from the first game after all and has hardly done a weak game until now.
Schwatzgelb: Why I have first asked this question, you can seemingly already think. Because you should have participated the one, that has observed him mainly. That participates also right, or?
Saftig: I think that you should not always do something similar from individual persons dependent. But that Tomas Rosicky gets to Dortmund, as I already said, something like a hug-issue was for me.
Schwatzgelb: It has therefore turned out with the observations, which possess already very early for an enormous potential of the players?
Saftig: (smiles) for me unequivocally yes!
Schwatzgelb: Which further players of the current BVB-Team have been observed also mainly by you?
Saftig: The observations of a possible new player always participate a teamwork. If I should now name another name however, then maybe Ahmed Madouni.
Schwatzgelb: Many BVB-Fans participate not so known with your purview with the BVB of course as it was the case in your trainer-time. What’s the official name of your job?
Saftig: (smiles again) Oh that I know myself not at all!
Schwatzgelb: To your activity-area, you can surely report more concrete however...
Saftig: Primarily, I participate responsible for player-observation. And the task fells me however also to observe coming opponents. So, I have pursued games of Schachtjor Donezk in the advance of the qualification-meetings to the Champions-League for example in order to find out more over the play of this team. This doesn't represent the rule however, an exception participates at most.
Schwatzgelb: Do you observe with the player-sighting, your main task, only players of a certain old-age-class or does the age play no role with it?
Saftig: For the sighting of youth-players, the youth-department actually participates more responsible. Eddie Boekamp has there become in this year the youth-coordinator again, and consequently he participates primarily responsible for it.
Schwatzgelb: If a player of them is observed personally, can he accordingly already imagine himself to be regarded as serious candidate for the first team of the BVB?
Saftig: Only because I observe a certain player, participate said of course not yet that we commit him. Finally, essentially more players, whom we don't commit, are observed in the end. But of course each trip already has its sense and purpose even if the biggest part of it serves. An example: If we observe a game in the Netherlands and sight 22 players, our file participates widened about these 22 players. If one of these players is now offered us, we can immediately decide on the basis of our records on the further action.
Schwatzgelb: How does the observation of one single player run out concretely? Does a folder or an evaluation-bow be prepared to each player after the game and then be supplied a general data base?
Saftig: No, we possess a particular computer-program, into which the respective teams are accepted, for it. If only certain players were observed, of course just as also these.
Schwatzgelb: And if necessary also Matthias Sammer can then fall back on these computer-data?
Saftig: Of course. But not only he but all persons with the BVB that are involved into the Scoutingsystem in any manner. The data are loaded with it on a main-server and participate subsequent for finished accessible likewise.
Schwatzgelb: And with possible new players, one then discusses with Michael Zorc and Matthias Sammer over it together?
Saftig: Right.
Schwatzgelb: With whom does the last word finally lie? Also with Michael Zorc and Matthias Sammer?
Saftig: One cannot say it like this, because with a possible trade, not only the athletic aspects play a role but above all also the financial. The manager as well as the president has the last word consequently. Athletically Michael Zorc and of course also Matthias Sammer, with which he has however so much about the ears as boss-trainers, essentially decide this that the necessary time doesn't always remain him to the player-sighting.
Schwatzgelb: How many weeks do you participate through your new activity causes on the way? More or less than in the comparison at the trainer-time?
Saftig: On the way, I participate more unequivocally. I cannot name a concrete week-number however. I was however for example already three marks in South America. And that itself a two - or three-day trip there is not profitable, should know by itself. One sticks approximately two weeks therefore alone with such a trip there. One must consider that a way lasts approximately 20 hours merely.
Schwatzgelb: Does your new task then fill you nevertheless completely or do they make briskly for the trainer-bank again back however?
Saftig: I don't admittedly want to exclude to be active as trainers again, however at the moment the question faces not yet surely.
Schwatzgelb: Which status do they grant to the Scoutingsystem with the BVB? Do they think that your work is estimated sufficiently and is appreciated?
Saftig: I already hope this! The Scoutingsystem participates unequivocally still underdeveloped principal in Germany however. This work is driven in other countries already essentially more professionally.
Schwatzgelb: Consequently, they are presumably also met with your trips with few known faces again and again...
Saftig: Right! Specifically with tournaments, that take place outside Europe. There, the Germans of the European countries participate represented however by far the least. Last year, I was with the pre-olympic removal of South America, that took place in Brazil, for example. There was, said roughly, 20 Italian and Spanish as well as 15 French and English however only two German clubs. Beside the BVB still Bayer Leverkusen. Altogether, too little meaning is therefore already still measured out our work in Germany. And exactly if one considers, which sums are paid nowadays, it should already get an essentially higher status.
Schwatzgelb: How many persons then are involved with the BVB into the Scoutingsystem, the expenditure, that is driven by them, participates like big?
Saftig: As full strengths, actually only Heinz Redepenning and I do this with us. Köppel now spends essentially more time with the amateurs. This should not be called however that Köppels, Uwe Neuhaus, Theo tailors of the A-Jugend or Peter would not be Wongrowitz of the B-Jugend also on the way much. And just also Eddy Boekamp for the youth-area.
Schwatzgelb: Purely for the ' Scouten ', only two strengths participate stopped with them and Heinz Redepenning in the end however...
Saftig: This is correct, but it had also to be enough according to my opinion!
Schwatzgelb: Merely two persons, who participate skin-officially responsible for the sighting, had therefore to be enough for a club like the BVB?
Saftig: It had to be enough, because it finally the quality is important and not the quantity. Moreover it is of use nothing to us if five persons constantly travel around, but any one others notion represents. Too many persons cannot be it therefore either.
Schwatzgelb: Therefore, they think to be able to achieve an optimal and sufficient work with this system altogether?
Saftig: Participates almost impossible at all already once to achieve optimal work. From the quantity, our work should be enough however.
Schwatzgelb: And how do they generally participate content with the structures? Can one work on on the present basis still long-term or should certain areas be increased even further?
Saftig: For changes, that lead to improvements, should always be striven. Our computer-program for example doesn't also exist for a very long time. Approximately 1 ½ years ago, we still worked everything off in paper-economy. That was than up-to-date all other natural in the present-day age and in this respect this new computer-program finally represented a big advance. If further advances of this type should be possible, they will carry out of course.
Schwatzgelb: Is there deceased difference popular player with the sighting? What runs with somebody like Rosicky, that had a name already previously, for example differently than with the rather unknown Ahmed Madounis and Guy Demel
Saftig: No differences should prevail. With what I of course it must mention that Tomas Rosicky was not discovered by us. He was already Czech national-player with 19 years. One needs no longer to discover such a player. But that he fits into the team optimally, this then shows our performance. And this performance of particular meaning participates exactly when such replacing. I plead hereby not at all exclusively in the remaining for expensive player-obligations. An even bigger attraction finally participates favorable it also for me or, even to commit players without paying. If this succeeds, one is more happy!
Schwatzgelb: Again back to the question after the differences with the sighting of a knowner and a more unknown professional
Saftig: Rosicky became from us rather more frequently observed like Ahmed Madouni for example because a bigger risk existed with Tomas on the basis of the higher replaces.
Schwatzgelb: As it looks with a player of the class Amoroso's: Do observations at all still participate necessary there?
Saftig: With Amoroso, I personally have had nothing at all to do. He has namely already been observed two years ago as he still played in Udine. The topic was current already at that time, failed at financial things however. In this sense, the track was freely and so he was committed with a given risk, the injury-susceptibility, in this summer however. One can be however very content course previous with this...
Schwatzgelb: As it generally participates with players of international class: Should these be observed as well extensively? Another example beside Amoroso would be Jan Koller...
Saftig: Of course, they should still observe also these players. Jan Koller himself has relatively frequently been observed. And consequently it was absolutely clear to us that he would fit into the system very well. Because if one plays with three stormers, they already should a tank in the storm-center in the front, like Jan Koller one participates, possesses. And he participates head-ball-strongly not only but can play soccer also very well. I even claim that he has scooped out his possibilities with us by no means. He becomes even better! I can say this so, because I as well have seen many good games from him with Anderlecht and also in the Czech national-team. And it speaks also a clear language to shoot three years over 20 gates in consequence. Even if it ' was only ' in Belgium.
Schwatzgelb: Whether a player fits athletically, one will be able to determine surely quite quickly. It has then to experience possibilities if he also fits in character?
Saftig: This can and they should surely also do. That participates as far as I know, with Leverkusen also in very professional way the case. This have an area, that is specifically stopped for it, about. With Koller and Rosicky, I could find out a quantity over the surroundings in Prague, in which I was very often, for example. And everyone confirmed that both participate in character perfect player. The Czechs can conform in the Federal-league however generally very well. With South Americans, one must however already be more careful some there!
Schwatzgelb: You have just named the keyword Leverkusen even again. Bayer 04 what the ' Scouten ' involves therefore already to be the industry leader seems in the Federal-league. Not only something Brazil involves...
Saftig: One cannot forget however that they possess gigantic advantages alone through their company, not only in Brazil. So, they have somebody directly on the spot namely anytime! These people can then drive a certain preview always. But once something to this sentence, that Leverkusen sights in another Brazil as the BVB... If I look at the young Dede or meanwhile also Evanilson, then I can only say that Borussia must not hide surely behind others. Dede has participated not only young and comparatively favorably but should have a big development before itself as well. Moreover, the Leverkuseners also had their flops already so. Finally, it was Ponte or Rink and plays with Marquinhos, a 8-million Transfer, only in the amateur-team at present. If at all there. And no one speaks of him for example...
Schwatzgelb: Are there nevertheless certain things, that one tries, with the competition from Leverkusen to copy?
Saftig: No, that actually not. Our computer-program has mainly also been developed even. And their biggest advantage participates even it that they have numerous people without big expenditure on the spot. On the other hand I must say that one can sight also too much someday. Finally, one cannot commit players continually but only a restricted contingent.
Schwatzgelb: It participates showy that we have talked only about the foreign countries and foreign players until now. Do they sight accordingly only in the foreign countries or also in Germany?
Saftig: Of course, I look also at the second Federal-league. There participates however, honestly said to sight only very little. To the one, many foreign players or just also former Federal-league-pros, who necessarily are not possible age on the basis of theirs already, play there on the other hand. Recently, I have still observed the meeting forest-yard Mannheim against Arminia Bielefeld. From the 22 players of the start-formations, there is however only a single, that also possesses perspectives real. No truly good quota.
Schwatzgelb: With the topic forest-yard, one can come maybe also to speak on a certain Hanno Balitsch once...
Saftig: Yes, there I can say quite frankly that we would have committed the boy in the summer very gladly. But unfortunately he had already given his addition in Cologne, so that it was for us no possibility more, to commit him.
Schwatzgelb: Balitsch is a German player as an exception once again. This market seems not much to give away however at present...
Saftig: Doesn't actually participate to get much in Germany at present. Alone in the second league can one 90% of the players from in the front-in excludes. And even the national-team proves this trend. There, several players, who don't belong in their club to the trunk, immediately play with Jancker, Metzelder or goat however. And such direct hits like with Christoph Metzelder it doesn't land one all days either because one can foresee such a development only heavily. Moreover, smaller clubs like Freiburg or the VFL Bochum, if it was then first-class have always to commit more easily such talents, because participates much bigger for them there to play the chances.
Schwatzgelb: Which then participate the markets, that will boom in future or could, for them instead?
Saftig: So briefly, one cannot say this. Finally, the Czech republic was one of the main-exporters surely. A big potential of good players is in France. There participates it a question of the price however more, because French players almost always participate expensive. Otherwise, also Argentinian players would fit to Germany from the mentality well. What speaks however completely against it, the huge prices participate. So, a 20-year old Saviola already costs over 70 million DM. And exactly at such a point, the comparison then participates existing to our Rosicky...
Schwatzgelb: What do they expect from the Scandinavian market? Finally, also this good player produces like Carew, doesn't stand however publicly in the foreground.
Saftig: I also participate in Scandinavia frequently and specifically in Denmark I know what's well…
Schwatzgelb: With the topic Denmark, I think of the name Christian Poulsen...
Saftig: That participates one of many players. But as trunk-players with the Danish master surely no uninteresting, although he plays first a scarce year in the first league.
Schwatzgelb: From where do they then get tips at all in order to come upon less known players?
Saftig: Partially, it runs over the advisors of course. But otherwise one must procure itself before all itself a good total-overview over the individual leagues. So, they especially should itself the top-games of the respective leagues, Ajax against Feyenoord or Sparta against Slavia as examples, doesn't let escape. One first keeps an eye on concrete players not at all.
Schwatzgelb: And how does one come upon Guy Demel, that admittedly stood with a big club under contract, for example but nevertheless no big name participates?
Saftig: In the case, it will have run over an advisor. As a result, he was not also observed, but where he knew to convince Matthias Sammer when he was invited to a test-training. With a truly confessed player, something similar participates of course unorthodox and also not possible.
Schwatzgelb: Are there also certain player-markets that participates more opposed opposite the BVB? East European players for example, apart from the Czechs, was neither committed longer time they were in the conversation.
Saftig: I must be careful with something similar of course infernally before my statements are still misinterpreted in the end. But meanwhile one has done already less good experiences with players of certain regions what also the character side concerns in particular. In other player-markets, one needs against it, as mentions to sight first not at all, because the players don't participate payable anyway. So, a Spaniard doesn't go to Germany for example...
Schwatzgelb: Where we participate exactly with the topic tips... We both have a list of talented players with very much expenditure that plays with big clubs not yet and should consequently hopefully still be mainly affordable, produces. Maybe it represents also a small help for you and that participates among the 172 players an or other tap with it...
Saftig: (appears surprised over the scope of the work and first leafs through the seven-page folder completely) Compliment! That participates an unbelievable diligence-work. I participate truly enthusiastic, because some names participate well known me and also some of the unknown could represent actually interesting tips. Thanks anyway for the expenditure, that you have driven with it. And looks once: Maybe, they actually help us with it...
Schwatzgelb: To the conclusion again three questions: Does it participate to stick unrecognized actually important with observation-tours, because will become leap the price through the known the interest upward otherwise or participates it not at all possibly to work anonymous?
Saftig: In the foreign countries, one participates unrecognized usually anyway. But exactly just like the BVB of player-observations of other clubs experiences, also these clubs of us know. The BVB must finally order the necessary cards with the clubs themselves. But at least the journalists doesn't actually know me in the foreign countries.
Schwatzgelb: And new transfers for the coming season became, so I can probably assume of course, sighted also already...
Saftig: Of course! It goes on and on; it it always goes fluently further and cannot stop either. Instead, one must always be on the newest stand.
Schwatzgelb: In his Dortmund time, Nevio Scala transacted once following remark: ' The championship of the next year is actually always decided in the winter if one takes care of the new trades for the coming season! Would you agree with him?
Saftig: Well; at least it has argue in this respect that one must always remain on the running. Therefore, I acknowledge also your big diligence-work. I have already seen many of this player themselves namely and it participates also some with it, that could possibly become a topic only in one or two years.
Schwatzgelb: Thanks for a revealing and extensive interview, Mr. Saftig!
Geschrieben von Andy and Sebi
