Marco Neppe interview: Bayern Munich’s former technical director on Harry Kane, Jamal Musiala and Ryan Gravenberch

Harry Kane has his first Bundesliga identify at the second one time of asking and whilst his contribution to Bayern Munich can also be measured in targets – 36 and counting this season – those that helped to signal him imagine he has introduced extra to the squad.

Bayern’s former technical director Marco Neppe performed a vital function in bringing the England captain to Bavaria and nonetheless regards Kane, signed for over £100m in the summertime of 2023, as one of the crucial memorable acquisitions all through his decade on the membership.

“You cannot change the market, you have to accept it and find the best way for your club. Yes, you have to take care to increase the value of your squad but it is about making those short-term and medium-term calculations,” Neppe tells Sky Sports.

“You might have players at the start of their journey. You might have a player who you know that in two years will deserve this spot in the team. A big signing can carry things on their shoulders while allowing some of these young talents to grow in the shadows.

“With Harry, he made the gamers really feel like they may rating despite the fact that we had been below power. They see Harry within the dressing room and know it is a participant who can trade the fit in a 2d. He does now not want 5 metres. Just a 2d and he rankings.”

Technical director defined

Neppe departed Bayern previous this season after a decade on the membership, the previous footballer running his approach up from a scouting function to that of technical director. “At 80 or 90 per cent of other clubs, the role would have been called sporting director,” he argues.

But what’s a technical director in his view? “I came from the recruitment side but there is not just one way. I suppose it is a bit like playing between the lines because you need to be really close to the dressing room too and understand that energy,” he explains.

“Do not underestimate this. We are speaking about 50 to 80 people around the first team at these big clubs. Ultimately, it is about players, who we expect to perform, but we have to protect that environment around them. This is how I understand the role.”

Neppe, nonetheless best 38, understands that function higher than maximum, having been a part of a vastly a hit technology for Bayern. The squad that received six trophies in 2019/20, together with the Champions League, used to be built at a moderately modest value for an excellent membership.

For Neppe, the routine theme of our dialog is the message that this isn’t about mere recruitment, the act of figuring out probably the most proficient gamers. The function is ready squad control, treating a taking part in body of workers as a dwelling organism, a continuing stability.

“We all played these manager games on the computer when we were teenagers. It was easy. You just click here and click there. But it is not just a case of, ‘We need a right-back, here are the best five right-backs.’ It is a culture thing. There is a lot behind it.

“Are there alternatives to improve? Are there profiles you’re lacking? And then, it’s about decision-making, timing and having the creativeness to look what each and every participant will upload in your crew, what it’ll imply for the power, the way. And this is tremendous complicated.

“For example, you need to feel the dressing room. Is there not enough pressure? Is there too much pressure? It might be that you are missing an easy-going guy, a Brazilian type who is relaxed ahead of that big match, someone who can help the guys just breathe.”

Memorable Musiala assembly

Kane, an skilled participant signed for a Bundesliga switch report charge, is an exception, actually. Much of Neppe’s focal point has been on bringing in one of the crucial easiest younger ability from round Europe, fuelling Bayern’s ongoing luck. But now not each deal comes off.

He chased Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and attempted to steer Jude Bellingham to signal when he used to be nonetheless at Birmingham City. Jamal Musiala did sign up for from Chelsea whilst nonetheless a youngster, even supposing Neppe concedes that he felt like the only being interviewed.

“With Jamal, it was a conversation that was different to all others before, especially given his age. I cannot remember a conversation like it in my life. You expect different answers when you meet an 18-year-old person to a 30-year-old person or whatever.

“He stunned me with how transparent he used to be together with his targets and ambitions. He used to be certain about the next move, what he had to toughen, which World Cup he sought after to play in, and I used to be like, wow, this character I didn’t be expecting. Everything used to be so transparent with him.

“He was just so prepared. This is a conversation with the technical director of Bayern Munich, so these are my questions, these are my answers. It came from his heart but he was so focused. On the plane back to Munich, I was like, wow, you will remember this.”

Sweating over Kimmich tip

Neppe’s first signing that he argued Bayern will have to make may simply stay his easiest. Joshua Kimmich were taking part in in the second one tier of the Bundesliga however he noticed one thing within the present captain who has long past directly to win the identify 9 occasions in Munich.

“My shirt was sweating that day when the guys asked me, ‘Do you really think Bayern Munich have to sign Kimmich?’ We were starting to change the strategy, signing younger players. But a player from the second Bundesliga? If you try this as your first signing…”

It paid off. “We strongly believed in him. It is a signing I will always remember.” But there were many. “I will remember Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies, Harry Kane. It is not always the big one. Mathys Tel was a really interesting signing. Noussair Mazraoui too.”

Never doubted Gravenberch

Some signings change into legends, others wish to transfer on to seek out their trail. On the face of it, few would regard Ryan Gravenberch as one among Bayern’s easiest buys, having stayed only one season, however Neppe isn’t stunned by means of his next luck at Liverpool.

“I am super happy for Ryan. He is a special midfielder. When we signed him from Ajax, we were 100 per cent convinced. And, honestly, we never doubted his qualities. We knew he would bring it someday. We saw exactly what he is now showing at Liverpool.

“But once in a while it’s about wanting some persistence too. Even in his first season at Liverpool, it used to be now not simple. It is a momentum factor. There are such a lot of tales in soccer the place large careers get started on account of an damage to any other participant and so they take their probability.

“Look at Alphonso Davies, the start of his career at Bayern was due to the fact that David Alaba and Lucas Hernandez were injured at the same moment. He got his opportunity. But it is not luck. In the long run, these players will always show their level.

“We are speaking about gamers however I desire to speak about human beings, how they believe, what are their triggers, their targets? How invested are they in their very own luck, within the crew? How resilient are they so that you can triumph over the cruel moments in soccer?”

Neppe can still celebrate Bayern’s success, but makes the point that football is always about the next signing, the next match. “In soccer, you don’t have time to appear again. Maybe when I’m 65 with my grandchildren.” For Neppe, it’s in regards to the subsequent process now.