Revered Schalke Coach Lifts Lid on Best Qualities of Former Students Ozil & Kolasinac

Arsenal fans have much to thank revered Schalke youth coach Norbert Elgert for, with the German a key figure in the development of Gunners favourites Mesut Ozil
Revered Schalke Coach Lifts Lid on Best Qualities of Former Students Ozil & Kolasinac
Revered Schalke Coach Lifts Lid on Best Qualities of Former Students Ozil & Kolasinac /

Arsenal fans have much to thank revered Schalke youth coach Norbert Elgert for, with the German a key figure in the development of Gunners favourites Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Elgert, who has also helped launched players like Julian Draxler, Leroy Sane and Joel Matip, has lifted the lid on what he believes to be each player's best attributes.

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"Mesut was a little bit shy as a young boy but he had great confidence in his ability," the 60-year-old coach explained.

"He is a fantastic player with game intelligence, vision, awareness and technique. He is always scanning the pitch and establishes the mental picture very quickly. Mesut is also a very good character and because of this I am very proud of him. He is confident but never arrogant."

As for Kolasinac, Arsenal supporters are already aware of his exceptional strength, but Elgert has also pointed to a very team-focused mentality.

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"Seo is a very strong guy with so much power and a great athlete, especially his capability to use his body to help his own team and dominate his opponents," Elgert commented.

"Then, like now, he was a big winner with a good mentality. He always wants to be the best but he also has that team first mentality which is so important in my philosophy. With Seo, you have a real friend."

Bosnian international Kolasinac has been a big hit with fans since arriving in north London as a free agent in the summer. Ozil, though, continues to have an uncertain future with the club as his contract inches closer and closer to its June 2018 expiration.


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