Johannes Tille likes to eat white sausages, preferably with sweet mustard. Just recently he enjoyed it at Munich Airport on the way to Perugia for the top game. It is a passion that the BR Volleys player shares with players from the Bavarian Bundesliga club TSV Haching Munich. But something else connects Tille and the club: his brother Ferdinand Tille was under contract for many years with the club, which was then called Generali Haching. He was runner-up there in 2009 and 2010 and won the cup several times. “I was in this hall very often, the club and I have a lot in common,” says Tille.
On Saturday he is now at home in the play-off quarter-finals against the club with whom he shares a long history without ever having played there (8 p.m.). He was only under contract with Bavarian Bundesliga club Herrsching before playing in the French second division at Saint-Nazaire and finally coming to Berlin this season. Here he was actually planned as a second setter, but when captain Ángel Trinidad got injured, Tille had to step in and got his big chance. The 25-year-old knew how to use it for himself.
He appeared more and more self-confident and not only convinced in passing, but also in other elements such as serve and defence. In particular, the axis with Anton Brehme, who, like Tille, plays for the national team, brought some crucial points. Sometimes Tille himself can’t quite believe that he has now taken on a real leadership role in Berlin and was able to play against world-class teams like Perugia in the Champions League.
“I still haven’t realized that I’m in the top eight in Europe,” he says. “Not many can do that.” He always wished to get such a chance in a top team. He feels sorry for teammate Trinidad that this was caused by an injury. “But for me it’s the best thing that could have happened.” Although Trinidad has long since recovered from his injury and is fit to play again, coach Cédric Énard continues to put his trust in the Bavarian and lets him play from the start. “It means a lot to me to get that trust.”
I still haven’t realized that I’m in the top eight in Europe.
John Tillesetter at the volleys
Meanwhile, Tille has become really hungry for top games. In Perugia he would have liked to have played five hours longer. “I couldn’t get enough, you don’t feel tired in games like this.” That’s why he’s particularly looking forward to the decisive phase in the championship, when it could be first against Haching and then against top teams like Düren or Friedrichshafen.
“Everyone is hot for the play-offs,” says Tille, “this week and next the atmosphere is a little more relaxed because – in quotation marks – it’s only against Haching. But everyone is ready.” He himself has two additional factors that drive him: On the one hand, he wants to win his first championship, on the other hand, he wants to give coach Cédric Énard a fitting farewell gift.
The Frenchman announced this week that he will leave the club at the end of the season. The longing for the family is too great, the tiredness after 15 years in professional sports too strong. The timing was well chosen by the club, says Tille. “In volleyball, rumors spread quickly. The coach wanted us to know first from the club. Nobody expected that, but it motivates everyone to win again and give it as a parting gift.”
But Tille is not lacking in motivation anyway. He’s looking forward to the first best-of-three game against his Bavarian colleagues and maybe one of them will have a Weißwurst for him.
Source: Tagesspiegel
Brayden White, a veteran sports writer at Global Happening, brings his wealth of knowledge and expertise to the sports section. With over a decade of experience, he is committed to delivering high-quality coverage of the latest games and events.
