<span class="fcc003318px">FCB vow to nurture and protect Kroos’ rare talent</span></p> Toni Kroos, named best player at the U-17 World Cup just a week ago, came face-to-face with the harsh realities of life in the German third division at the weekend as the Bayern reserves fell 2-0 to Jahn Regensburg, although coach Hermann Gerland reckoned the youngster provided one of the few bright spots on a dismal day. Toni was supposed to be relaxing at his parents’ Rostock home following his exertions with the Germany U-17s in Korea, but the 17-year-old clearly cannot play often enough at the moment and returned to Munich several days earlier than expected – hence his run-out with the second team. Kroos’ superb attitude Incidents such as this underline Kroos’ utter commitment to his duties as a junior pro. “His attitude is fantastic,” declared Uli Hoeneß, seated next to the starlet at a news conference on Monday, a gesture symbolising the long-serving board director’s personal interest in the career of arguably the most promising youngster in German football. Hoeneß advised the throng of journalists that Kroos would only rarely appear in the media spotlight from now on. “He’s a young lad, and it makes no sense to hype him up into some kind of global superstar. We’ve set ourselves the target of protecting him,” the general manager explained. “We want him to focus on football, while we nurture him with extreme care,” Hoeneß repeated, advising young Toni to move on from the “wonderful experience” he had enjoyed at the World Cup. More physical now Kroos insisted he had no intention of resting on his laurels: “Any World Cup is obviously fantastic and a chance to show people what you can do. It was also a great honour to be named best player, but I can’t sit back and let that do the job for me here.“ The player is well aware he still has it all to learn, particularly in the transition from junior to senior football. “It’s a great deal more physical and gets pretty heated from time to time. But I’ll have to come to terms with it, and it’ll help me progress,” he confidently declared. Specific role in mind Kroos, who favours a berth in attacking midfield, will normally train with the first team but gain match practice with the reserves. “Some of Bayern’s best players have come up through the reserves,” Hoeneß recalled, naming current stars Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philipp Lahm, and former greats Dietmar Hamann and Sammy Kuffour. “It’s a chance for him to make a name for himself.“ However, in the right circumstances, Toni could soon be selected for the first team squad and blooded in the top flight. “He’s aiming to become more than just a Bundesliga journeyman,” reported Hoeneß, already a self-confessed Kroos admirer: “He could become one of our most important players.“ In pre-season, the Bayern manager was quoted as saying he had reserved the revered number 10 jersey for Kroos, “but he’ll have to work very hard for it first.“ Ultimately, Hoeneß is in no doubt about the youngster’s chances: “He’ll make it.“</p> <span class="fcc003318px"></span></p>
He should, I'm glad that they're working with him and helping him become better. He's still young.</p>
