12 Questions with Kendral Ellison
Shortly before the new season begins, Munich Ravens Head Coach Kendral Ellison speaks in the EFA-NEWS format “12 Questions – Der EFA-Talk” about preparation, his team’s identity and the special role of the fans in Munich.
After a turbulent offseason, the Munich Ravens are clearly looking forward. Kendral Ellison explains what matters to him: real team culture, control over the team’s own tasks and a football style that should be fast, physical, tough and relentless.
Coach Ellison, how excited are you and your team for the coming season?
After an offseason like this, I think everyone is simply ready to get started and do what we love. If you put all the politics and egos aside, we just want to play and coach football. We are really looking forward to getting back on the field and fighting for each other.
What makes a season opener so special from a coach’s perspective?
Every year it is a new team. You have to forget past success or failure and focus on what this current group of players can and will achieve. The opener is the first real chance to see where the team truly stands. You can always guess what you have, but until it becomes real, you simply do not know.
How do you prepare a team for the first game of the season, especially when there are still many unknowns?
You keep the main thing in focus and control what you can control. We cannot allow ourselves to be influenced by outside factors. That is why we focused fully on what we can control — ourselves. Our approach and our preparation for week one were internal. We embrace this journey and everything that comes with it.
What identity should the Munich Ravens show on the field this year?
Fast, physical, tough and relentless. That has been the goal since I arrived in Munich, and that has not changed.
When you look at your roster, what are you most looking forward to this season?
Honestly, I simply want to see how the guys develop throughout the season. No player and no coach is more important than another. Every single person brings something that gives the team energy, whether he is new or returning. Seeing how it all grows together and what we can make of it is the most exciting part.
What does it take to build a strong team culture in European football?
You have to be open to building real relationships. I believe in transformative relationships, not purely transactional ones. Players in Europe play this game because they love it. I believe you get the best out of them when you create a culture in which they feel seen, heard and valued. You have to give them the chance to take ownership of the team. It is about setting standards, not just rules. And in the end, everyone has to be held accountable to those standards.
What are the biggest challenges for a coaching staff during preseason preparation?
There are many challenges in an offseason. But one of the biggest for a coaching staff is simply not doing too much. While you build the roster, players come in and others leave. That can create the feeling that you need to add this or that. Then you start changing your identity and starting over during OTAs. I believe in trusting the process and allowing players to grow with a system and within a system instead of changing it every time players come or go.
How important are discipline, physicality and mental strength for the Munich Ravens this season?
Not only this season, but every season. These things are crucial. Together with other factors, they are part of the foundation of our culture.
What role do the fans and the Munich Ravens Crowd play for the team on gameday?
The role of the crowd cannot be overstated. Our success, especially at home games, is also largely thanks to them. Over the last two years we have lost only one home game. That shows their impact. They are loud, proud and fantastic. They make gamedays unforgettable and special for everyone.
How do you see the development of the EFA and the future of European football?
The EFA has done a very good job with the way it put the teams together. Competitive balance is something many people have wanted for years. I think the EFA has managed to bring together a group of teams that all have a chance to be at the top in the end. For the future, I believe strategic growth is better than rushed growth. It should stay competitive and exciting every week by relying on qualified teams that have proven they can compete at a very high level. High-quality, balanced football should be the goal.
What can Ravens fans expect from your team this season?
They can expect 60 minutes of hard and exciting football every gameday. They can expect a team that leaves everything on the field every week. They can expect a team that wants to do its part to represent Bavaria and its great culture. Every game should be exciting, entertaining and an unforgettable experience for the whole family.
What message would you like to send to Munich Ravens fans and the European football community before the season starts?
Thank you for your support during this rollercoaster offseason. No matter what abbreviation the league carries, I think everyone simply wants to see this great sport continue to grow and develop. Keep supporting your teams and players, because they work every day to deliver the best possible performance in front of all of you. Your support means more than you may realize.
Kendral Ellison makes clear what the Munich Ravens want to stand for this season: intensity, unity, discipline and a clear football identity. He sees the Ravens Crowd as an important factor, especially at home games in Munich.