“Too many complicated terms”
Union coach Bjelica rails against the new generation of coaches
March 6, 2024, 10:12 a.m
Nenad Bjelica is not a “laptop trainer”. Discipline is important for the Union Berlin coach. Certain rules apply to his players and he doesn’t want to overload them with complicated terms. Some people don’t understand them anyway, suspects the Croatian trainer at the Alte Försterei.
Union Berlin coach Nenad Bjelica doesn’t have much use for new-fangled football terms like a tipping six or asymmetric left defense. “I respect the new generation of coaches, in my opinion they just analyze too much. And sometimes I don’t understand why they use complicated terms so often,” the Croatian told “Sport Bild” and added: “I think that “Even some players don’t understand that.”
The 52-year-old sees himself as an old-school trainer, not “a laptop trainer”. Bjelica doesn’t believe in too much video analysis. “In my opinion, you shouldn’t overdo it and you shouldn’t constantly overload the players with too much information. We only do video analysis on the day of the game, a maximum of 15 minutes long. The entire meeting lasts no longer than 30 minutes,” reported the coach about his methods at the Bundesliga soccer team.
Chewing gum ban and punctuality
Bjelica has been on the sidelines for the Iron team since November. After a series of defeats under Bjelica’s predecessor Urs Fischer, the Berliners fought their way out of the bottom of the table and now have a comfortable cushion of eight points over the relegation place.
The Croatian is considered a coach who demands an enormous amount of discipline. “We are all privileged, are paid very well – and the players have to work a maximum of four and a half hours a day, including training preparation and follow-up. What profession does that exist in?” asked the coach.
There are also certain rules under Bjelica. “For example, that none of my players chew chewing gum during training or a game. It once happened in my career that a player swallowed chewing gum during a practice session and almost choked on it. I would also like all players to have five minutes before be on the pitch at the start of a training session,” said the Union coach.
However, he himself has already suffered a serious lapse in discipline at Union. In a catch-up game at FC Bayern, Bjelica wiped Munich international Leroy Sané’s face twice. He was shown a red card and was banned for three games.