Philipp Köhn: 'Everything's in place!' | OneFootball

After arriving at AS Monaco this summer from Red Bull Salzburg, young goalkeeper Philipp Köhn (25) talked to us about his career, his inspirations, his areas for improvement and the Swiss national team. Interview.

Philipp, have you always been a goalkeeper?

"I started going in goal very early, at the age of five or six. When you start playing, you play all over the pitch, but one day there was a shortage of goalkeepers and I volunteered. Since that game, I've never left the goal!"

Can you tell us about your background?

"I was born and brought up in Germany, where I played for a number of clubs in my youth: Duisburg, Schalke 04, Stuttgart and Leipzig. That gave me the opportunity to see different things, particularly different training methods. I then began my professional career in Austria, with FC Liefering and then Red Bull Salzburg. I also spent a season on loan at FC Wil in the Swiss D2, which was a very good experience for me, because as a young goalkeeper, I needed game time to develop."

How did things develop?

"When I went back to Salzburg (2021-22), I was initially the number 2, but when the coach (Matthias Jaissle) asked for me, I was there and he continued to have faith in me. RB Salzburg is an excellent springboard because it's the best club in the Austrian league and you also have the chance to play in the Champions League or the Europa League."

What have you learnt from the many European matches you've played?

"To take my concentration to the next level. There was a big difference between the Austrian league and the Champions League, where you were up against the best teams in Europe. In the Champions League, you have to concentrate for 90 minutes, because something could happen at any second. But it's very stimulating to play against the best players in the world. That's why we have to do everything we can to ensure that AS Monaco qualify for this competition."

How would you describe yourself as a goalkeeper?

"I'm a goalkeeper who reads the game well, who can make saves and play with his feet. I have a number of qualities and, given what coach Adi Hütter wants, I think I'm going to rely a lot on my footwork."

AS MONACO - RC LENS (3-0) / Highlights (ASM - RCL) 2023/2024

Inspiration: Gianluigi Buffon, Iker Casillas

People often talk about the German goalkeeping school. Can you tell us about it?

"I don't know if you can say there's a German style. It's Manuel Neuer in particular who has had a huge impact on the development of goalkeeping, not just in Germany but all over the world. All goalkeepers are inspired by him. His style is sometimes a little peculiar, but he always manages to be excellent. The position of goalkeeper is probably the one that has changed the most over the last 20 years."

Are there any goalkeepers other than Manuel Neuer that you appreciate?

"I've tried to draw inspiration from a lot of different goalkeepers. A few years ago, I watched Gianluigi Buffon and Iker Casillas as well as Manuel Neuer. I also like Jan Oblak and Hugo Lloris, who has a similar physique to mine. Hugo is a world-class goalkeeper with impressive reflexes, who's quick off his feet."

What kind of saves do you particularly like?

"For me, the decisive save is more important than the save itself. So the best save I can make is the one that saves you the win and the clean sheet in the last minute of a match!"

In what areas do you see room for improvement?

"In all areas! But perhaps even more so in terms of character. It's always difficult to arrive in a new league and a new city. I want to adapt as quickly as possible. Luckily, I've got my girlfriend, my family and even my dog with me! The squad has also made me feel very welcome, so everything's in place for things to go smoothly!"

Coming back to the mental aspect and the great capacity for concentration that the role of goalkeeper requires, how do you manage that as a young player?

"Of course, it's a position where you have to concentrate all the time, right up to the 90th minute. As I said, sometimes you have to make a last-minute save to help the team win, so concentration is vital. With Salzburg, I saw very different matches, because in the league we were the best team in the country, whereas in the Champions League, you needed a much higher level of concentration."

The mental game

How do you work on that?

"It's difficult because the training sessions and matches are very different from each other, but here with Frédéric de Boever, there are new methods for me, with a lot of cardio, because if the body is in shape, the thoughts will be clearer. The work on the mental aspect is a good thing, but you have to be able to combine these exercises with what happens on the pitch. It's not easy, but it's necessary, because as a goalkeeper, you have to be strong mentally."

Can you tell us about Adi Hütter?

"I was already very familiar with his philosophy of play because we also worked together at RB Salzburg. I also saw him play for Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Mönchengladbach. Before I signed here, we spoke on the phone, but I already knew that he was a coach who liked to have the ball and who demanded pressure."

You are a Swiss international, although you played for the German national team until the age of 18. What prompted you to make this choice?

"It was natural to represent Germany at youth level, because that's the country where I was born and where I've always lived. But then, as my mother is from Lausanne, I was contacted by the Swiss federation. The contact with the coaches and goalkeeping coaches was immediate. I wasn't playing in the first team at Stuttgart, but the Swiss team decided to put their faith in me. I started playing for the Nati at the age of 18 and was lucky enough to play at U19, U20 and U23 level."

You were also called up to the senior national team, where you worked with Yann Sommer, Jonas Omlin and Gregor Köbel at the last World Cup....

"It's funny, because Yann and I had the same goalkeeping coach. When I was young, at Stuttgart, I had the man who was his coach at Monchengladbach (Steffen Krebs). We talked a lot about that. But yes, you can certainly learn a lot from goalkeepers like Yann, Jonas or Gregor. Not so much on a technical level, because each one has his own style, but more on a mental level, in the way they approach a match or even a training session."

You're not the only Swiss goalkeeper in Ligue 1 Uber Eats, as there's also Yvon Mvogo at FC Lorient. Does that create a little duel to see who is the best Swiss keeper in the league?

"It might be a duel for the media, but not for me [laughs]. What's more, I know Yvon well, because we spent a year together in Leipzig. He's a good guy. But I'm going to concentrate on my performances and if we're both good, it might be a problem for the coach!"

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