In the 6-0 away victory over the non-competitive San Marino side, Angelo Stiller and Nico Mantl made their debuts in the U-21 national team. However, apart from the joy of it, the two Munich-born players are currently moving in completely different emotional worlds.
“The first few weeks were perfect for me,” said Stiller on Friday during a digital media round: “I honestly didn’t expect to play so much straight away. I’m extremely grateful to the coach for his confidence.” Those words were addressed to Sebastian Hoeneß, who to the surprise of the vast majority of observers had called up Stiller in the starting line-up in all four of Hoffenheim’s competitive games so far.
An indirect praise for Stiller
In the summer, the 20-year-old made the switch from third-division relegated Bayern Munich II to TSG on a free transfer and got off to a flying start under his club coach, who was already familiar with him from their FCB days. U-21 national coach Stefan Kuntz also gave Stiller a starting mandate on the six directly in the first game after the change of year. Kuntz took him off at half-time, but “because Angelo was slightly injured”. Kuntz explained that this substitution had not done the U21s any good. This was indirect praise for Stiller, who had directed the game with aplomb in the much better first half against an overtaxed opponent San Marino and had played his part in the 5:0 lead at the break.
Kuntz plans to work on the list of shortcomings from the second 45 minutes with his team in a video session on Friday evening. Stiller, who slightly twisted his ankle in the game but was back on the pitch on Friday without any complaints, does not need to feel addressed. He analyses his general situation confidently: “You can’t imagine it much better as a young player. I think it will continue this successfully, for me and as a team. I haven’t had any bad games for Hoffenheim and the U 21s. I hope that I continue to develop in the best possible way and become a permanent fixture.” In the DFB jersey and at the club.
“It was an indescribably beautiful feeling, even though I hardly had anything to do. “
NICO MANTL ON HIS DEBUT
Nico Mantl, born in Munich like Stiller, is currently a long way from that status at the club. He already left a (later) third division relegated team for a first division club last winter and was also in the starting line-up at his new employer for the start of the new season. But after only two appearances in the cup and on the first league matchday for RB Salzburg, where he had moved for around two million euros after ten years at Unterhaching, Mantl found himself back on the bench.
An unusually early recall at the sensitive goalkeeper position, which those responsible around the German coach Matthias Jaissle explained like this. “They said that my competitor Philipp Köhn is doing very well in training and therefore deserves to play. And they said my performance in the league game was not as commanding as they thought it would be,” revealed Mantl, who nevertheless sees Salzburg as a “super springboard for young players” despite the measure, which was “unexpected” for him.
The debut in the U 21 came just in time as a contrast to the frustration on the bench. “It was an indescribably nice feeling, even though I hardly had anything to do,” said Mantl, who hopes to also be called into action on Tuesday in Latvia, when he will presumably face the first tests in his core business. He added that nothing has yet been decided in the competition with Luca Plogmann (Bremen) and Luca Philipp (Hoffenheim), who are also currently out of action in the Bundesliga and 2. Liga. The match shares on Tuesday will serve as the first fingerprint despite the test phase at the start of the new two-year period for the U 21s.
