THE GOLDEN CHILD IS A WORRY FOR GERMANS
Daum backing son’s side to progress but warns prodigal Hagi packs real punch to boost prospects of resurgent Rangers
BAYER LEVERKUSEN’S data guru and chief analyst Marcel Daum has spent recent weeks combing through footage of Rangers in impressive pre-season action. And so he becomes the second generation of Daum to be set a poser by the talents of Ianis Hagi.
Four years ago, Hagi was the young player who Marcel’s dad Christoph ignored at his peril.
Three days after the veteran German manager’s appointment as Romanian national coach in July 2016, the big transfer news was golden child Hagi’s move from Viitorul Constanta to Fiorentina for 2million euros.
It wasn’t long before dad Gheorghe wanted a word. He attempted to twist Daum’s arm to include the teenager in the senior squad.
Daum refused to cave in, taking the unpopular view that Hagi was best serving his time learning the international game in the Under-21s.
As he watches Hagi emerge as an influential figure for Rangers and looks forward to seeing him up against Bayer on Thursday, he is more convinced than ever that the right call was made.
Daum believes giving him the responsibility of Under-21s captain when he was only 18 played a key part in Hagi’s development into the driving force seen in Steven Gerrard’s group today, as did harsh lessons in the domestic leagues of Italy and Belgium.
For that piece of judgment, Rangers can be grateful. Daum Jnr may not be if the 21-year-old, a £3m signing from Genk this close season, sparks a stunning second-leg comeback from 3-1 down.
Hagi has already performed such miracles in the Europa League for Rangers. In the space of 45 minutes at Ibrox in the previous round when Braga discovered a 2-0 away lead wasn’t enough.
The Romanian’s double was the highlight of a 12-match loan spell in Glasgow. The promise of more of the same and his scope for improvement has Rangers fans believing Hagi magic could tilt a tight title race in their favour. Daum can share the sense of anticipation.
‘In the past, Ianis was, of course, like a playmaker,’ he said. ‘Now he’s also a decision-maker. It was very important for him to make this next step and that’s what I see at Rangers.
‘That he has now made that breakthrough. I really enjoy seeing him play because Ianis is not fighting football. He is playing and celebrating football. He looks to have found a good place. I am glad he’s enjoying Scotland.’
Romania turned to Daum, the former Leverkusen, Cologne and Fenerbahce coach, for their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign following a poor Euro 2016 showing in France.
Hagi was only 17 but already touted to follow his father to the top of the European game.
‘I could have picked him but I didn’t,’ Daum explained. ‘I spoke with his father who always wanted to have him in the A team when he was 18.
‘I said: “Look, it makes no sense for him. He wasn’t ready”. I could have brought him as substitute but I wouldn’t have done the right thing.
‘It was much more important for his career and development that he played regularly as captain in the Under-21s. There he can take responsibility. There he can grow.
‘Being in the A team would not have been so good for his development. I told Ianis that I wanted to see him be the player who can lead, who makes the difference and who prepares himself to be a first-XI player of the national team.
‘At that time, he wasn’t so satisfied with that. But he understood it was for his career and the right way to go about it.’
In Florence, young Hagi discovered a logjam of midfielders crowding his way to Paulo Sousa’s Serie A side.
Eighteen months and two substitute outings later, he rebounded to Viitorul to start again. Or, rather, star again.
A stellar season and a half back home did glean senior Romania honours near the end of season 2018/19.
His displays at the 2019 European Under-21 Championships, scoring and leading Romania to wins over Croatia and England, led to links with one of dad’s former clubs, Barcelona.
Genk pounced with an £8m offer and five-year contract, although Hagi failed to live up to that billing and was rescued by Rangers in January.
Daum was dismissed by the Romanian FA only 15 months into the job and before he could grant the Hagi family their senior cap wish. However, the 66-year-old has kept a close watch on the player’s progress for club and country.
‘In Belgium, he found a very tough league,’ noted Daum. ‘They are fighting sometimes more than they are playing. I felt it was a new situation for Ianis and sometimes they kicked him out of the game.
‘They didn’t allow him to play football. But he learned. He learned to survive to succeed.
‘Now I think he’s taken all the negatives from his experiences there and in Italy into his life in Scotland.
‘He looks tougher now. He works hard for the ball. It wasn’t like that four years ago.
‘Now in certain moments, he dominates. He’s a player who can make the difference.
‘Before, he maybe gives a nice pass and a good free-kick but now physical and mentally he has grown up and is now much stronger.
‘He’s really improved and on a higher level for Rangers. There are not so many players on the market with this amount of potential for £3m. I think it’s a good investment.’
Daum was manager of Leverkusen in 1999 when losing a UEFA Cup knockout game over two legs to Dick Advocaat’s star-studded Rangers.
Now son Marcel is plotting the Ibrox club’s downfall for current Bayer head coach Peter Bosz.
Dad checked in with Marcel to learn that the backroom boys have been admiring Gerrard’s team in their preparation for the new season, including their Veolia Trophy triumphs.
Leverkusen, meanwhile, have not played since their 4-2 German Cup Final defeat to Bayern Munich on July 4.
‘My son has been analysing those friendly games and, while, I cannot tell you everything I can say, yes, he’s impressed by what he saw of
Rangers winning every friendly,’ said Daum.
‘We know Rangers are playing very well, those results to win against Nice and Lyon are fantastic.
‘Leverkusen have only practised, with no tests. Rangers have played more recently, albeit not competitions but at a good level.
‘They can only benefit from those results and they must be in excellent shape. It sounds to me as if Rangers are in a position to be ready for a surprise.
‘There is no so-called home advantage. Forget about that.
‘In the first leg, Leverkusen did it very well. This won’t be the same. Right now, Rangers are much better prepared and have a big chance to at least make a draw.’
That outcome would only see Leverkusen advance to the quarter-finals and prevent the superb Kai Havertz from an early exit to Chelsea.
Club director Rudi Voller has insisted Havertz will not be permitted to complete a £90m move to London for as long as Leverkusen are engaged in European competition.
The Europa League provides a route to the Champions League next season for the winner and Bosz’s men missed out on the domestic avenue with a fifth-placed Bundesliga finish. ‘The whole concentration is now on winning the Europa League and this would satisfy everyone to qualify for the Champions League — they are totally focused to pass this round,’ added Daum.
‘Whatever will happen, they have stated that Havertz will stay until the end of the Europa League. ‘If they succeed, they will join the Champions League and maybe Havertz will be satisfied with Leverkusen and stay one more year. If not, the next step is that there must be a huge offer on the table to make a transfer.’