The 20-year-old Pennsylvania native reached a significant milestone final week when he made his Bundesliga debut in win in opposition to Wolfsburg. Canouse spoke to ASN’s Brian Sciaretta in regards to the expertise.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
March 24, 2016
10:00 AM
SHARE THIS STORY
THESE ARE TENSE TIMES for Hoffenheim. The membership has been within the Bundesliga since 2008 however the present season has been a continuing relegation struggle.
On March 12 the crew discovered itself in possession of a 1-0 lead in opposition to sixth-place Wolfsburg, and within the 62nd minute of this match the crew’s new head coach, Julian Nagelsmann, summoned Russell Canouse to enter the sport for his Bundesliga debut.
It was fairly a stage for the Lancaster, Pa., native as his membership desperately wanted three factors in opposition to a really gifted opponent. However the defensive midfielder did his job and Hoffenheim held on for the upset victory.
“I was definitely nervous standing on the sideline waiting to get in, especially in a situation like that against a top team in Europe,” Canouse informed American Soccer Now from Germany. “I wouldn’t say I was surprised because I was mentally preparing myself during the days before the game in case I would get a chance. I think that is what helped it be a successful debut for me.
“It was a big three points for the club and I was just very happy to be a part of it.”
Canouse, 20, joined Hoffenheim in 2011 when he was simply 15 years previous. Over that point he has risen steadily via the membership’s youth groups, typically serving as captain alongside the best way.
Canouse and Nagelsmann are accustomed to one another because the younger coach helmed Hoffenheim’s U-19 crew when it gained the title in 2014—with Canouse carrying the armband. The American credit Nagelsmann—at 28, the youngest coach in Bundesliga historical past—with expediting his arrival within the German prime flight.
“Obviously the pathway to the first team was always my goal,” Canouse mentioned. “I have had teammates in the past who made the jump to the first team so I was just hoping I would be the next to come up. In regards to it being possible, the injuries did help this weekend but I also think Julian Nagelsmann coming up helped my chance. I have just tried to be really patient and mentally prepared if and when the opportunity came.”
Nagelsmann felt Canouse did job for his membership at a crucial stage.
“It is not easy to deal with—to be in training here, then be in the squad, and then also to play,” Nagelsmann informed reporters afterward. “To start out him would have be a bit a lot because it was his first recreation, however we wished reward him. He did job [in his debut] and misplaced nearly no duel.
“He has a huge heart and a great personality, he has earned it over the last few years.”
Essentially the most attention-grabbing factor about Canouse and Nagelsmann is that it’s not their first relegation battle collectively. When Hoffenheim’s U-19s had been caught in a relegation battle of their very own, Canouse was promoted from the U-17 crew and performed a pivotal position in serving to keep away from the drop.
Relegation battles in prime European leagues aren’t any occasions for younger gamers however Canouse believes that his expertise in related conditions has ready him for the excessive stakes of the German prime flight.
“I definitely don’t think it’s easy because week to week the situation could either get better or a lot worse so that makes the pressure much greater,” Canouse mentioned. “I used to be part of a relegation battle when Julian [as coach] and Alex Rosen [as manager] took over the U-19s whereas I used to be nonetheless within the U-17s. They pulled us up and I performed within the final recreation to assist the crew keep within the U-19 Bundesliga for the next 12 months.
“These conditions are good for participant growth as a result of it is a totally different type of strain than in case you are successful each recreation.”
Naglesmann recommended that Canouse’s future with the membership might be vivid however was fast to level out that his debut was because of the truth that Hoffenheim had been coping with suspensions and accidents to a number of midfielders. Nonetheless, he identified that Canouse will stay in consideration on a weekly foundation.
“You have to see,” Nagelsmann mentioned. “The main target is on the attitude of the participant. If he performs with us, he can keep if he has little likelihood of enjoying. We should see that he will get enjoying time, which is essential for its growth…We’ve got him undoubtedly on the checklist—additionally with the U-23 crew.”
Along with his Bundesliga debut now within the rearview mirror, Canouse has excessive hopes for his future. He earned the arrogance of his supervisor and hopes that may translate right into a long-term future with Hoffenheim.
Exterior of soccer, he’s very a lot on this planet of enterprise and the inventory market, the place he’s taking on-line programs. His Twitter feed displays these non-soccer pursuits.
Past that, there may be the nationwide crew which has at all times been a precedence for Canouse. He has featured at many age teams for U.S. youth nationwide groups and even wore the captain’s armband in 2015 for the U-20 crew at World Cup qualifying. (An unlucky harm simply earlier than the match compelled him to overlook the World Cup.)
Serving as captain for each membership and nation is considerably of an everyday incidence for Canouse however regardless of his veteran presence, he was not included on the U-23 roster for the upcoming Olympic qualifying playoff collection in opposition to Colombia. Now with a Bundesliga look to construct on, Canouse hopes to climb again into the image and will even characteristic for the U-23 crew ought to it qualify for the video games in Rio de Janeiro.
“My goal is to stay apart of the national team as well as that has always been of very big importance to me,” Canouse mentioned. “I’m just going to be patient and see how that unfolds. If I take care of my job here then I will hopefully get the opportunity to represent the United States with the U-23s or the full team at some point.”
