'Toughen up' - Kewell on the 'completely different' attitude of today's youth

Harry Kewell has discovered several differences in today's young footballers, claiming they would not be able to handle the everyday rigours he underwent as a 17-year-old at Leeds United.

Having earned his promotion to the first-team as a teenager at Elland Road, Kewell's no-fear approach set the wheels in motion for a Premier League spell few Australians have yet to match.

The likes of Gary McAllister, Gary Speed, Gary Kelly and Lucas Radebe failed to faze the wily winger, who was soon among Europe's elite and, later, in Liverpool's UEFA Champions League-winning line-up.

"I suppose when I came over here (to England), I came over here to play in the Premier League and the highest level,” Kewell said on Premier League Daily.

"I didn’t come here to stall for two or three years, I wanted to get straight into the mix.

"All these players, they were tough because they expected a lot, but they knew if they gave me the ball in certain situations what I could do."

Now a manager looking to pass on his knowledge to the next generation, the Socceroos great has noticed glaring differences in the makeup of today's teenage talents.

"It is different because it has changed now," Kewell said.

"Even the simple thing is when we first came over, we all had jobs and a responsibility.

"We used to have to sit there for a good 20 minutes polishing one boot to make sure you could see the shine, otherwise the first-teamer wouldn’t be happy.

"Now, even cleaning, a lot of Premier League clubs have people coming in, so the youngsters don’t really get to know how to clean and look after themselves.

"They get all their food too. Their attitude straight away feels like they’re walking in and they’re Premier League players.

"The way they get brought into this is not good. Let’s face it, nine out of 10 will not make the Premier League. They may make the Championship, League One, League Two, I just think they need to toughen up.

"It is a tough sport, you have to be strong, thick-skinned, otherwise people will tear you apart whether that’s on the pitch or off the pitch.

"I just don’t think they do enough in this day and age to set the tone right for young players to know what world they’re actually getting involved in because it is tough out there.

"It is one of those things that - what we’ve grown up with and seen in dressing rooms, you just couldn’t do that to young players now.

"I don’t think they could handle it. It is a completely different world we’re living in now, so you’ve just got to go with it.”


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3 min read
Published 17 April 2020 6:19pm
By SBS The World Game
Source: SBS


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