There is a particular humility that comes with arriving into a system that already believes in itself. You do not walk in and declare what it is. You listen. You observe. You try to understand the rhythms that were here long before you, and the quiet intentions that sit behind each decision. My first year at Chur has been exactly that. A process of learning the language of the club, of understanding how talent is identified and, more importantly, how it is protected.

What follows is not a definitive judgement on these players. It cannot be. I have only known them for a year, and youth development does not reveal itself in straight lines or clean conclusions. These are impressions, shaped by training sessions, conversations, small moments that stay with you longer than they should. It is a reflection of where they are now, and perhaps more tellingly, where we think they might go.

Marcos Lima stands apart, and it is important to say that carefully. He is of Cape Verdean descent but entirely shaped by Graubünden, and there is something quite fitting about that blend when you watch him play. He has dominated youth football in a way that forces you to act responsibly as a club. There has been a conscious effort to soften the noise around him, to make sure that his development remains grounded rather than accelerated by expectation. In truth, there are very few visible weaknesses at this stage. His physical development will come naturally, and when it does, it will simply add to a profile that is already rare within our system. We are excited, of course, but excitement must be managed just as carefully as the player himself. Ennio Fehlmann has lived the other side of that reality, often tasked with stopping Lima in training and youth fixtures. That experience alone has shaped him. He may not yet be as comfortable in possession as we would ideally like, but in terms of pure goalkeeping instinct, he is exceptional for his age. His reflexes and agility give him a natural presence in the goal, and what stands out most is his intelligence. He reads situations early, which allows him to compensate for areas that will develop later. Bryan Schenk is an example of how observation can shift perspective. When we first saw him at school level, he was playing higher up the pitch, largely because of his comfort with the ball. It would have been easy to leave him there. During the evaluation process, however, there was a moment where his understanding of space and timing suggested something different. We are now exploring him as a deeper player, potentially as a full back, where those qualities may become more valuable. He does not have the physical profile that immediately demands attention, but there is enough there to justify patience. João Oliveira offers a contrast to Lima, both in profile and in pathway. He is naturally inclined to drift wide and work back onto his left foot, which gives him a different kind of threat. The challenge for him is structural rather than individual. The areas he is most suited to are already heavily occupied within the club, and that creates a need for clarity in his development. There is promise, certainly, but it must find the right context to grow. João Afonso arrived with a technical base that immediately caught our attention. He is an attacking midfielder by instinct, but physically he is still finding his way, and that shapes how we handle him. There is something to work with here, something that justifies time and investment. He is a player we quietly believe in.

Javier Viñas has progressed in a way that reflects the values we try to instil. He works, he listens, and he carries himself with a maturity that is not always present at this age. There is a Basque influence in how we speak about players internally, and Javier fits that framework well. He is not far from experiencing football beyond the youth level, but there is still a sense that he needs to grow into himself a little more before that step is taken. Ardian Cakaj has undergone one of the more deliberate positional evolutions within the group. Moving him deeper was not about limiting him, but about placing him in a context where his strengths could become more consistent. His finishing was never going to define him, but his ability to influence play in advanced areas remains clear. He is learning how to interpret the game from a different starting point, and that process is ongoing. We rate him highly because of how he thinks the game. Luca Grillo carries the label of a generational talent, which is both accurate and potentially unhelpful if not handled correctly. He is developing as a right-sided player who prefers to come inside, and there are moments where his quality is obvious. At the same time, there are limitations in his vision that may define the ceiling of his role. This is where coaching becomes specific. He needs time, repetition, and a focus on the technical details that allow him to operate more effectively when in possession. Marko Nikolić has found space to grow following changes around him, and that space matters. He fits the profile that our first team manager values in a free attacking role, with technical ability and a willingness to take risks. There are questions about how far that profile can take him, but those questions should not limit the work being done now. His development remains open. Ruben Quentin has had his trajectory interrupted by injury, which is always difficult at this stage. He is, alongside Grillo, one of the most naturally gifted players to have entered the system recently, and the hope is that continuity will allow that to re-emerge. Next season feels important for him, not in terms of pressure, but in terms of rhythm. Philipp Tuena is still searching for the role that best suits him. He has pace, and he has the instinct to play high, but physically he may not be suited to leading the line in the traditional sense. We are encouraging him to understand space differently, to operate in areas where his movement can create problems without requiring constant physical confrontation. Philippe Vidoli finds himself in a more complex position now, particularly with the emergence of Lima. That said, his profile as a forward who runs well and understands vertical movement remains valuable. His attributes align with what we want from that role, and his performances at youth level have been encouraging.

Nicolás Muñoz has already begun to touch the first team environment, which changes how we evaluate him. Mentally, he is strong, and that has allowed him to cope with that transition. The next phase for him is technical development, alongside natural physical growth. There is a sense of anticipation around him within the club. Daniel Tuena, as the older of the brothers, presents a slightly different challenge. His qualities as a playmaker are clear, but development is not only technical or tactical. There have been moments where his alignment with the collective has required attention, and that is part of the process. It is not a barrier, but it is something that must be addressed before exposing him to the demands of senior football elsewhere. Dylan Bibaud’s situation is a reminder that progression is rarely linear. Once seen as the leading figure of his group, he has not advanced as expected over the past season. That does not close his pathway, but it does change the decisions we must consider. A loan may provide the stimulus he needs, particularly in roles where he can create and influence play more consistently. Paupol Nsingi represents a broader vision for the club. His arrival from Sion reflects an intention to expand our reach within Switzerland while remaining aligned with our development principles. He brings flair and passing ability, along with experience at a higher level than many of his peers. The plan for him includes further loan experience, which should support his integration into our long-term structure.

Aleksandro Duro has offered the kind of versatility that coaches value, appearing across multiple defensive roles over the course of the season. His personality strengthens that contribution, but there is also a need for progression in his individual attributes. Versatility alone cannot sustain a place within a squad that is evolving. Josua Testoni is another player whose development requires honesty. He has been given opportunities with the first team, and while there are positive aspects to his performances, there is also a sense that more could be extracted from his work. Questions around his approach to training are being addressed internally, and he is receiving support from within the squad. Joseph Ballo’s loan to Sion has not unfolded as we might have hoped in purely footballing terms. However, development is not measured only in minutes or statistics. Over the past year, he has grown significantly as a person, and that growth will influence how he approaches the next stage of his career. His future remains open. Oscar finds himself in a moment that will likely define his trajectory. His frustration at not securing a loan move was understandable, but opportunities within the first team have not yet been taken in the way we would expect. There is still time, but time does not wait indefinitely. Valerio Christen has responded to uncertainty elsewhere by establishing himself more firmly. His goal return speaks clearly, but what has been just as important is his development as an individual within the group. Consistency in front of goal, combined with personal growth, gives him a strong platform. Marco Dreßler emerged unexpectedly last season and has since settled into a role that often sees him introduced later in matches. That context affects how his contributions are perceived, particularly in terms of scoring, but within the squad he is recognised as a player capable of influencing games. The next step is to translate that impact into a more sustained presence.

After a year, what becomes clear is that development is as much about restraint as it is about ambition. There are moments where you want to accelerate everything, to push players forward because you can see what they might become. The reality is that timing matters more than vision. Knowing when to act, and when to wait, is perhaps the most important lesson this role has offered me so far.

This group is not finished. In many ways, it has barely begun.