Pascal still dreams of Germany calling him
CARLISLE, 2014 LEIC’TER, 2013 for. I did not see that coming. But I knew there was a player there because of his attitude and the way he was.
“He just practiced and practiced, spending hours on the training pitch just working on his game. He deserves all the success he’s had but none of us could have sat here and say he’d become what he’s become.”
The reason that he made it, according to Redknapp, is because he was prepared to get his hands dirty on loan in the lower leagues. He said: “I loaned him out at the time. I’m a believer in the loan system. Earlier in my career I also loaned out Rio Ferdinand, Jermain Defoe, Frank Lampard, Glen Johnson and Michael Carrick – all boys who went on to become great England internationals. “I told them to go out and play proper football. Under-21s football is a complete waste of time. Go out and play real football where points and results matter. “That’s what Harry had to do and so many others in this England team. That’s where you learn.”
And that is where you will likely find the class of 2022
– not in the academies of the super-rich clubs but on the books of those trying to make ends meet.
Redknapp added:
“The young players who develop faster are those who play against men.
“There is a lot to be said for our lower leagues in England.” MK DONS, 2014 BARNSLEY, 2013 PASCAL GROSS knows he will need another spectacular season with Brighton to get a dream chance with Germany.
The midfielder, 27, was voted the Seagulls’ player of the year last term and proved one of the bargain buys of the season in the top flight.
Snapped up for just
£3million from Ingolstadt, Gross contributed seven goals and eight assists to help Chris Hughton’s side stay in the Premier League.
But Germany boss Joachim Low has never come calling – and Gross watched on TV over the summer as his country suffered their worst World Cup for 80 years.
Gross, who can also play as a No.10, could have been forgiven for thinking he might have done a better job for the
2014 world champions. But even with the controversial international retirement of Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil, Gross knows forcing his way in for a first cap will be a huge challenge.
He said: “Of course I watched the Germany matches at the World Cup. I am a kid from Germany and so I saw the games as a fan of the team and my country.
“It would be a dream to represent it – but the most important thing on my mind is Brighton, my club in the Premier League.
“If there is one day a chance to play for Germany it would be amazing but for now I am concentrated and focused on my club – even if there were changes.
“And that means being prepared for the Premier League and the first game at Watford.”
Gross took huge confidence from the way he effortlessly adapted to the top flight of English football – but will not be resting on his laurels.
He added: “I took confidence from my performances last season – but football changes every day. You have to show your quality every day.
“You can’t just say last season was good so automatically you will be good again this season. So I have worked very hard to be in the best possible shape for the start of this season.
“I was pleased with my performance last season but as a human and a footballer you want to improve all the time.
“That isn’t easy once you get to this level but I will always try my best to do that, it is my character.
“If we win matches, and stay in the Premier League and play some good football, that is what I want and you can be happy with the personal statistics.”