RB Salzburg's sporting director, Christoph Freund, has spoken to La Gazzetta dello Sport in view of tonight's game against AC Milan. He said the following words about the Rossoneri project:
"I don't want to talk about other clubs. Every club has a history, which also depends on its country. Objectively it is easier in a league like ours to include young players, even if in Italy the boys must have the desire and quality to grow and mature in the best possible way."
Christoph Freund added:
"In the top 5 European leagues, it is more difficult to carry out this type of project. Milan, however, are one of the best in the world, otherwise they would not have won the Serie A. In recent years, they have changed their skin and strengthened. They relied on the experience of (Olivier) Giroud and (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic and the talent of some top young players. We want to put them in trouble with our style of football. This is our challenge."
On Salzburg's project:
"Last year, we lost only one match out of four with Bayern and Sevilla, eliminating the Spaniards from the Champions League. I don't think we can be underestimated. We take young players for our first team or kids to be included in the youth sector which must always be at the forefront. Here, young people have the opportunity to win titles in Austria and to gain European experience at the highest level. We have still been in the group stage of the Champions League for four years in a row and, sometimes, as happened last year, we even pass it. We know that players of the caliber of Haaland, Szoboszlai and Adeyemi do not stay long in the Austrian league. This is why when they are ready we sell them, obtaining an advantage for everyone."
Christoph Freund on the summer purchase that he is the most proud of:
"We believe in everyone's qualities. However, I must say that Fernando, the striker we took from Shakthar, has entered really well. You will learn to know him. But over time, others will do well too. They are all young players, you have to be patient. Everyone needs their time."
