Huddersfield Town are the latest club to join the ranks of other Premier League clubs. After getting promoted to the first division thanks to the Championship playoff rounds, the Terriers will be looking to make an impact in their first season in top flight football.
Not only is Huddersfield’s rise to the top, something very compelling and extraordinary but the club, thanks to its manager, David Wagner, now share a rich bond with the Bundesliga. David Wagner, previously being the head coach of Borussia Dortmund’s reserve team, joined the English club in 2015 and quickly made his mark.
Wagner, who worked with Jurgen Klopp, when he was in charge of Borussia Dortmund, prefers the hardcore brand of football, something very relative to Jurgen Klopp’s philosophy. Wagner loves to bring unity among his players and wants his players to play as a collective unit on the pitch. “I like passion in the game. I like speed. I like my team to score goals.” – he said when he was first unveiled as Huddersfield boss.
Currently, Huddersfield have no less than five ex-Bundesliga players, who can possibly vouch for a starting position in the team. Ingolstadt’s Elias Kachunga has been the most impressive ex-Bundesliga player for the Terriers.
The young forward moved to Huddersfield from Ingolstadt, after initially impressing with Paderborn in the 2014-15 season. He was permanently signed from Ingolstadt this summer for a fee of €1.5m. Kachunga, who was the club’s top scorer last season, scoring 13 goals in the Championship, will be a key offensive weapon for David Wagner’s counter attacking approach.
Christoph Schindler and Chris Lowe have been a vital part of Huddersfield defence. Schindler, who was one of 1860’s top defender, will no doubt play a key role in the centre of the defence. While Lowe, a former Dortmund left back, has also been a key figure for Huddersfield. Both of the defenders are resolute and well established defensive options for David Wagner.
Jon-Gorenc Stankovic and Colin Quaner on the other hand, are the two interesting individuals brimming with potential. Stankovic arrived from Borussia Dortmund last season. The 21-year-old Slovenian centre back did feature in a couple of games under Thomas Tuchel but due to lack of playtime, he had to move elsewhere. Stankovic is a physically intimidating figure in defence.
He can be a great backup in the defensive department and if nurtured well, he might well turn into a first-choice starter. Colin Quaner, on the other hand, comes from second division Union Berlin. He had been quite prolific in the 2.Bundesliga, scoring seven goals and providing five assists in just 14 outings for Union in the Hinrunde last season.
However, he has failed to live up to the expectations so far, scoring just three goals in 22 outings for Huddersfield. Quaner needs to step up his game, and if he does, Kachunga is sure to have a strong competitor.
Danny Williams is another former Bundesliga player. Having arrived from Reading this summer for a free transfer, Williams has made over 50 Bundesliga appearances in his time with Hoffenheim and Freiburg. Most importantly, however, the American has also won 22 caps for his country. His experience will be a key in the defensive midfield position.
With the way, the Premier League is bringing in all the hidden talents from the Bundesliga, it’s definitely a good thing for German football, as more and more players are moving abroad and gaining experience. Huddersfield have been one of the few clubs to rely on their Bundesliga starlets in order to survive in the top flight. It will be interesting to see how David Wagner’s side can cope with the pressure of playing in the Premier League next season.
