'Many careers ruined' - Is the media putting too much pressure on young players?

Tom Weber

• 19 Oct 2025 06:01 CDT
• 5 min read

News

FC Köln starlet Said El Mala is currently taking the Bundesliga by storm, but his coach, Lukas Kwasniok, has urged more caution from the press when reporting on young players.

The 19-year-old 'wonderkid' has played 245 minutes of top-flight football in his career, yet El Mala is already being billed as the next big thing to come out of the Bundesliga. To be fair, it is easy to understand the hype.

In his limited minutes, El Mala has scored three goals, including a wonderful mazy run and finish against Hoffenheim before the international break, and provided one assist. The teenager was also unplayable at this summer's U21 European Championship.

The tricky winger is a joy to watch, combining youthful exuberance and a decisiveness that belies his age. Earlier this week, El Mala received the silver Fritz Walter medal, recognising him as the second-best talent in his age group for his exploits in 2024/25, when he was still playing third-tier football.

However, coach Kwasniok is using every possible opportunity to pump the brakes on the hype. He argues that some of the media reporting on El Mala has "lost touch with reality" and could be harmful.

Kwasniok: Too many careers ruined by exaggerated hype

Speaking to FAZ ahead of Saturday's game against Augsburg, Kwasniok urged the press to exercise more caution when speaking about young players. "Right now, I'm often reminded of the many negative examples we've seen when media hype loses all connection to reality."

The manager, who is in his first season at the club and has already become a fan favourite, was referring to some of the reporting in the German media about El Mala becoming the "next Lukas Podolski," FC Köln's most famous son, and Bayern wanting to sign him.

Brighton reportedly attempted to poach El Mala in the summer, but Köln rejected an offer worth around €15 million out of hand in the knowledge that his stock would skyrocket this season. They are now already said to value him at €35m, and this price is only going up.

However, Kwasniok is frustrated with the publicity. "Unfortunately, I can't stop it, but obviously, sections of the press are under so much pressure that they have to come up with something, and the next person outdoes it without any basis in fact.

"This kind of behaviour is simply not acceptable to me. No journalist should fear repercussions for such reporting, but how is a young player supposed to handle all this?

"It's comparable to first love: There are always talented boys who fall in love for the first time at 14, and there are often heartbreaks in their lives that sometimes can't be mended."

The coach, of course, is thinking about all the "next Lionel Messis" and "next Neymars" who crumbled under the pressure - the Freddy Adus, Bojan Krkics, Alen Halilovics and Ansu Fatis of this world.

Ironically, though, even Kwasniok got slightly caught up in the hype after El Mala salvaged a point against Augsburg yesterday.

"Let's not kid ourselves," he began, "if he continues scoring like this and, in addition to the moments of brilliance, develops the important aspects of being a Bundesliga player, we'll have to sell him at an incredibly high price.

"That will happen one day, and that's fine. I currently have the feeling that he has Köln very much in his heart and is enjoying this phase here. I enjoyed that moment, too."

Is the media putting too much pressure on youngsters?

Kwasniok's comments are not only pertinent in the Bundesliga. In the Premier League, Max Dowman is making waves at Arsenal, having recently become the second-youngest debutant in the division's history.

Aged 15, the youngster is not even allowed to get dressed in the same changing room as the seniors, and he needs to be under constant supervision, yet Dowman already has his own stylist and is being touted as England's answer to Lamine Yamal - even by teammates like Cristhian Mosquera.

It is easy to forget that Yamal himself is only 18. Already a Ballon d'Or runner-up, the Spaniard is said to be concerning Barcelona with some of his behaviour off the pitch.

On the one hand, it is easy to understand that youngsters make mistakes. This is perfectly normal. But with players like Yamal, who are in the news 24/7, the lines between immature frivolity and celebrity entitlement can become blurry quite easily.

It is not difficult to see that Yamal cherishes the attention. He has that kind of superstar mentality that allows him to thrive in the spotlight, but this is a rare trait. There are countless examples of players who got caught up in their own hype and withered.

Of course, it is not just media attention that can lead to problems. Money, too, can be a corrupting factor. For as good as Yamal is - and he is absolutely incredible - is there really a need for him to be making up to €27 million annually at 18?

At the end of the day, Yamal, El Mala, Dowman and all the other 'wonderkids' are still just that - kids. Let them play football with their mates in peace.

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