For eight years, Joachim Hopp wore the jersey of MSV Duisburg in the 1990s. What he likes about today’s team and what he would like to see.

Joachim Hopp is known as a man of clear words who also criticises his heart’s club MSV Duisburg from time to time.

That has not changed since the beginning of his engagement as ambassador for the Zebras. The club legend (149 appearances between 1990 and 1998) recently proved this in an Instagram Live on the MSV channel.

Hopp was asked whether he saw potential in the current squad. “At the moment, the team is playing what it can,” Hopp replied. “I would like to see four, five new players aged 23 to 28 who have leadership qualities. Then the players around them will also get better.” Because at the moment, Hopp continued, “we have too many players who are busy with themselves and have to look to perform themselves.”

Hopp cited Sebastian Mai as an example of leadership quality. The 56-year-old feels that MSV needs a player like the defender, who arrived from Dynamo Dresden in the summer, in every part of the team. “He is the only one who tries to lead the team.” Marvin Bakalorz, for example, also leads the way with his performance. “But it also needs the verbal. “

At the same time, the 56-year-old Hopp stressed that his criticism was “never about the person, but always about the thing, the football”. Hopp also had some praise for the youngsters in the squad and head coach Torsten Ziegner.

“I think it’s good that we have a coach who brings in the youngsters,” Hopp said, referring to Caspar Jander (19) and Baran Mogultay (18). The duo have successfully established themselves in the professional team this season. And with Julian Hettwer (19), a third talent has been part of the squad for some time. “They have super approaches and prerequisites,” Hopp emphasised. “You can see that the youth team is working well. When I look at the games of our A-youth (fourth place in the U19 Bundesliga, editor’s note) this season – hats off to them for what they have achieved.