In the world of professional football, young players are often faced with a difficult challenge as they are thrown into the deep end of the sport and are expected to perform at the highest level with very little room for error. This can be an intimidating and overwhelming experience, especially considering the high stakes and immense pressure that come with playing at such a competitive level....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
While there are certainly exceptional players who are able to make an immediate impact, it is widely acknowledged that most young players will require time and patience to refine and improve their skills before they reach their full potential.
Recently, during the match between Manchester United and Leeds United at Old Trafford, young player Alejandro Garnacho was the focus of much criticism after missing several key opportunities to score, particularly during the first half.
The reaction on social media was, while predictable, unjustifiably harsh, as it failed to take into account the fact that Garnacho is a young player who is still learning and developing his skills.
It is this type of hasty judgment that can have devastating consequences for young players, causing them to lose confidence and perform even worse. This can lead to a vicious cycle of negative feedback and further decline in performance, and can result in a total and complete drop in confidence of some of these players.
This has been demonstrated in the cases of Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, both of whom were initially criticized for their lack of experience and faced intense scrutiny from the media and fans.
However, with the support of their coaches, teammates, and families, they were able to overcome these challenges and establish themselves as prominent figures in football.
It is important to understand that young players are still in the process of developing and refining their skills, and that they will inevitably make mistakes along the way. Instead of criticizing and belittling them, we should be offering them encouragement and support, as this can help build their confidence and foster their growth as players.
Furthermore, by investing in the development of young players, we can ensure the future of the sport and the continued success of the teams we love.
It is imperative to recognize the importance of nurturing and developing young players, and giving them the necessary time and support to grow and improve as players. Failure to do so can have disastrous consequences, not only for the players themselves, but for the future of the sport as a whole.
