Sarpreet Singh describes training and learning from Coutinho and Lewandowski

He’s only made one appearance for Bayern Munich’s first team, but New Zealand starlet Sarpreet Singh is one of the club’s most promising young, rising talents. After impressing for Bayern’s reserves in the 3. Liga, he was called up to the first team in December.

In an interview with Bundesliga.com, the 20-year-old said he thoroughly enjoys the opportunity to work alongside world class talents like Philippe Coutinho and Robert Lewandowski. Specifically, Singh said that training with them has helped him realize what it takes to reach the top:

Basically, I’ve learned what it takes to be a professional at this level. It’s not easy. These guys don’t become who they are without hard work. To be able to learn from the world’s best players is really special. I continue to work hard and try and be like them. To have them in the dressing room, watch them play games, and play with them, is a dream come true, but at the same time, I’m here now, I have to try and push and compete with them. But I learn lots every day from these sorts of guys, and I try and add all that into my game.

Photo by ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images

As an attacking midfielder, scoring goals is something Singh wants to do as often as he can at the top level, but perfecting the craft in front of goal is anything but easy in Germany’s top flight. Singh said he has learned much by breaking down and studying each and every finite detail of Robert Lewandowski’s game. And as a 10 himself, he has enjoyed a first-hand look at how Philippe Coutinho operates in tight situations with the ball:

[Lewandowski] knows how to score goals! His record is incredible, he’s an absolute goalscoring machine. For me, it’s great to learn about which part of the foot he uses and at what time in which situation, it does come down to specific small details like that. It’s all about decision making. With Coutinho, I’m looking at what he does in tight spaces, how he scans over his shoulder and gets out of tight situations. I play number 10 too, so there is no-one better to learn from than Coutinho.

Singh also had praise for teammates Joshua Kimmich and Serge Gnabry, two of the players he said that have helped him adapt to life with the first team:

Joshua Kimmich and Serge Gnabry have both been very good to me. They’ve helped me adapt, and they still give me advice. They’re easy to talk to, and they’re the ones who have helped me settle into the first-team environment.

Photo by A. Beier/FC Bayern via Getty Images

Singh made his first-team debut in Bayern’s 6-1 hinrunde win over Werder Bremen, coming on as a late sub for Coutinho. It was a moment, he said, that he’ll never forget. Singh did not know Hansi Flick would use him as a sub, even though Bayern was well ahead in the match:

The coach is never going to tell you if you’re going to come on or not before a game. For me, it’s like any other game I play. I don’t change my routines or anything like that. It’s important to be consistent, so I prepared in the same way as I have done for every other game in my career. That will never change.

For me, it was an amazing feeling to make my debut. It was a dream come true. For someone of Indian background, growing up in New Zealand, it’s quite a big moment, a special moment, and hopefully I can inspire the next generation of kids to work hard and push on to bigger and better things.