Paul Nebel made his Bundesliga debut for Mainz in 2020 at the age of 17, but the youngster was unable to make the breakthrough. After maturing in the second division, the 05ers’ homegrown player now seems ready for it.
Wants to get started in Mainz: Paul Nebel. IMAGO/Beautiful Sports
On the occasion of his return after two years on loan at Karlsruher SC, Paul Nebel (21) was recently greeted by Mainz’s sports director Christian Heidel as a “seasoned professional”. An assessment that the 05ers’ homegrown player shares and underlines: “I have definitely matured, athletically through the season and humanly through the step away from Mainz, where I grew up. I definitely want to assert myself here now and play as much as possible.”
It was basically the same before the interim step into the second division, but in addition to the increased experience gained through 65 second division appearances, the lively attacker now also brings with him a sharper self-awareness: “When you come up from the youth team, you’re first the one from the youth team and maybe not quite ready yet. Now it’s a bit like coming home for me, but also a new chapter. That’s how I’m going to approach it, I’m not going to hide.”
Gruda, Lee and Sieb promise the returnee a tough competition
This new beginning at the training club was planned well in advance by both sides. It was no coincidence that the 05ers did not give KSC a purchase option for their talent, who has since been promoted to U-21 national player. And for Nebel, “the goal was always to be a regular player in Mainz at some point.” After the 2022/23 season, he initially preferred to spend another year in Karlsruhe, but now he feels ready for the competition at Bruchweg.
The rivals are certainly impressive as things stand: South Korea’s national player Jae-sung Lee (31), shooting star Brajan Gruda (20) and Bayern loanee Armindo Sieb (21) are all vying for one of the two offensive half positions in the 3-4-3 system favored by coach Bo Henriksen, just like Nebel. “It was clear to me that if I wanted to make the step into the first division, I would face great competitors everywhere,” says Nebel, “it’s not a sure thing, I have to earn the right to play.”
The head coach’s style has spurred me on; he recognizes my strengths.
Nebel also demonstrated his conviction that he was in exactly the right place with his early contract extension for a further two years until 2027. He was also encouraged by the personal conversation with Henriksen and his coaching team beforehand: “The head coach’s style simply spurred me on,” said Nebel, “I’m also a guy who lives from the mentality and leaves everything on the pitch. I think that he understood me well in that respect and recognized my footballing strengths, but also my character strengths. Overall, I felt that they really wanted me to come back and that they really planned with me.”
At the same time, the 1.69 meter tall and 66 kg professional claims that “I can also give a lot to a team.” His Karlsruhe sponsor Christian Eichner recently described this in concrete terms in an interview with kicker: “Paul is extremely hard-working, runs a lot and has a positive venom in him. In addition, his small, quick movements make it extremely difficult for the opponent to get the ball.” Combined with this conclusion after two years of working together: “Paul has developed into a top player in the 2nd division, who now has to take the step into the 1st division.”
2024-07-04 13:21:36
#Matured #Mist #hide
