Keep expectations of United States striker Josh Sargent realistic - Bremen coach

Published on: 11 December 2018

American teenager Josh Sargent scores with his first touch in the Bundesliga, heading the ball in two minutes after coming on for Werder Bremen.

Werder Bremen coach Florian Kohfeldt has urged people not to expect too much of United States international Josh Sargent after he scored his first Bundesliga goal on Friday.

Following seven goals in 12 games for the club's under-23s, 18-year-old Sargent scored less than two minutes into his Bundesliga debut as Bremen beat Fortuna Dusseldorf 3-1.

Editors' Picks

    Watch on ESPN networks in the U.S.

    ESPN+ is America's home for a host of professional soccer leagues from around the world, highlighted by Italy's Serie A, Major League Soccer, UEFA Nations League and English FA Cup. | ESPN+ schedule

    Welcome to the 2018 FC 100

    ESPN FC's experts ranked the best men's players and managers in world football. Check out the list.

    Jose Mourinho's Last Stand

    Deliberate isolation. Petty feuds. Constant turmoil. The Manchester United manager wouldn't have it any other way, writes Sam Borden.

    Kylian Mbappe and the curse of the World Cup

    Is there such a thing as peaking too early? Given all that Kylian Mbappe, just 19, has accomplished, we might soon find out.

"We all must be careful what we expect from him," Kohfeldt said. "If he makes five, six Bundesliga appearances until the summer, it is a good a year for him."

While Sargent will not be included in every first-team squad this season, Bremen have longer-term plans for him with Claudio Pizarro having turned 40.

Kohfeldt told reporters on Monday it was "a realistic goal" for Sargent to take Pizarro's place in the squad.

"We want to develop our own top forwards. We wouldn't have to buy them then," he said. "If, next summer, Josh is the one, we've done a lot of things right.

"Josh does not care whether he plays at the Weserstadion or Platz 11 [the U23 pitch], and he would not care about 80,000 in Dortmund.

"He can block that out, a quality Pizarro also has. That can make the difference between a good and an outstanding player."

Source: espn.co.uk

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.
Learn more