Borussia Dortmund’s Luca Reggiani celebrates his pro debut and a six-point weekend. His coach reveals what the talented defender now has to deal with.
There are days in a soccer player’s life that you’ll never forget. On February 7, Luca Reggiani experienced one such day. During Borussia Dortmund’s away game at VfL Wolfsburg, the 18-year-old made his professional debut.
With the score at 2-1 in favor of BVB, the center back was substituted into the game in the 95th minute, getting his first taste of the Bundesliga. “A dream came true,” he later wrote on Instagram beneath a photo of himself being substituted into the game.
Less than 24 hours later, Reggiani laced up his cleats again for the Black and Yellows. This time, however, it was for the U19 team, which faced Holstein Kiel in the opener of the DFB Youth League main round.
The BVB youth team ultimately won by a narrow margin of 3–2, and Reggiani played his part in that victory. The center back exuded total composure on the ball. He drew attention to himself with his calm, composed defensive play. It’s no surprise, then, that his coach also sees positive development in Reggiani.
“Luca is simply outstanding week after week and game after game,” says U19 coach Felix Hirschnagl, adding: “Due to his injury at the start of the season, he had a relatively difficult start. But now he’s an absolute leader on our team. It’s just great that he’s getting his first taste of professional soccer on the field. He’s earned it thanks to his attitude and hard work.”
They need to learn to deal with this, because that’s what the guys can expect in the future if they aren’t undisputed starters.
Felix Hirschnagl
Making your professional debut for a club with the prestige of Borussia Dortmund can have different consequences. Ideally, a player takes the trust placed in him and turns it into even better performances. The downside is a mindset along the lines of: “I’ve already made it.”
However, Hirschnagl isn’t worried about that with Reggiani. “I think it will definitely push him, and he’ll figure it out,” he says. The coach goes on to explain: “The key thing is that the guys learn that, once you turn pro, it’s possible not to be on the roster on the weekend or to play for the second team. Or to get playing time with the U23s and then have to go back to the U19s afterward. They have to learn to deal with that, because that’s what the boys can expect in the future if they aren’t undisputed starters.”
Referring to Reggiani, Hirschnagl had these closing words: “This very issue will certainly come up again for him in the early stages of his career. That’s why the key is to manage yourself well and always be able to stay focused on the present moment.”
If Reggiani takes the field for the U19s on the upcoming matchday, he’ll be returning to a place that will likely always hold fond memories for him. The BVB youth team is set to play away at VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday, February 14, at 12 p.m.