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UEFA WOMENS UNDER 19: 'More intense than the Bundesliga'

/noticias.info/ A FIFA Women's World Cup winner in 2003 and capped 154 times by Germany, Bettina Wiegmann has seen a lot yet even she has been surprised by the quality on display at the UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship. Now having assisted former team-mate Maren Meinert in coaching Germany to victory in the last two competitions, and aiming for another here in France, the 36-year-old tells uefa.com about the fitness of the team, growing expectations and how the tournament compares to domestic top-flight football.

uefa.com: How do you rate the quality at these finals?

Bettina Wiegmann: There are no big differences between teams any more and this is positive for women's football. The way you implement your game plan, a bit of luck and the way you handle pressure decides if you win or lose. It is hard for the girls as they are not used to this level of play, even if they are playing in the German top flight or the second tier. The level here is much higher and more intense; the whole game is faster over 90 minutes.

uefa.com: You have players from the top flight and from the second division. How do you deal with their different levels of fitness?

Wiegmann: The training in the Bundesliga is not sufficient for the level required here, and the players get individual programmes for power, sprint and endurance according to their needs, so they can develop on an individual basis. We are doing sprint and lactic acid tests throughout the season, and are following a long-term plan as a few players might still be part of the squad going to the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Chile [starting in November].

uefa.com: Does work at club level need to be intensified?

Wiegmann: We are already working on that. We are trying to offer special training sessions for the national team players at senior and junior level. The current intensity of the training is just not enough to be among the best internationally.

uefa.com: Is it an advantage that you and Meinert were still playing at the highest level five years ago when you won the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup?

Wiegmann: It definitely is as we know exactly what happens here, from the preparation before a game to the recovering process and the way our players think. That's why we can prepare them in a perfect way.

uefa.com: How are responsibilities split up between you and Meinert?

Wiegmann: Maren is the boss, but we know each other well and exchange opinions regularly. We help each other out; it's really good teamwork. Sometimes she is doing the training sessions, sometimes I do, likewise for the video analysis sessions or training with the substitutes.

uefa.com: With Germany successful in women's football over all ages, how do you deal with growing expectations?

Wiegmann: It's normal that people expect more and more if you are successful. We teach our players that the most important thing is to develop their skills. We don't expect them to win each game. They just should try to transfer what they've learnt in the training to the game. If you give everything and still lose, nobody will blame you. They will learn a lot here on and off the pitch and they will return home with loads of new impressions, as players and as people. notas_de_prensa_archivo