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Last summer, Lucien Favre was almost philosophical about modern football and its unhealthy development.
Because there are more and more games, there must be more and more players, explained the experienced coach - at that time still in the service of Borussia Dortmund.
And because the wear and tear of every single professional is significantly higher than it was ten or twenty years ago, it is hardly possible that a player who has clearly exceeded 30 can regularly achieve top performances, according to Favre.
There are only a few exceptions to this rule.
One such exception is: "Lukasz Piszczek", according to Favre.
Then the trainer went into raptures.
Anyone who is a player in their early 30s has to "train harder, have even more stamina and power." Otherwise it would simply be "over."
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Piszczek, 35, do all of this, be a role model in every way.
That is why he was able to play 38 competitive games last season despite his advanced age.
"But it is an exception, downright a miracle," says Favre.
Lukasz Piszczek hates interviews
On June 3, Lukasz Piszczek will be 36 - and then, he is determined to do so, he should be good at professional football.
At the beginning of the season, the Polish right-back declared that it would be his last season - and despite all attempts to persuade him, he has stuck to this decision so far.
He plans to then join his home club LKS Goczalkowice, a fourth division club.
"But I just want to keep fit there and play with my friends," he said: "It has nothing to do with professional football."
But there are currently forces trying to change the mind of the 66-time national player - because he still seems way too good for retirement.
For a few weeks he has even had a regular place at BVB and is good for Edin Terzic's team, Favre's successor.
Right side tight: Lukasz Piszczek gives Dortmund defensive stability even in the eleventh year
Source: AP / Friedemann Vogel
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The fact that Dortmund have achieved a better starting position in the fight for the Champions League places and are in the DFB Cup final has not least to do with the fact that Piszczek consistently seals his right side: Against Union Berlin ( 2: 0) and VfL Wolfsburg (2: 0) as well as in the DFB Cup semi-final against Holstein Kiel (5: 0), BVB scored zero.
In his old days, Piszczek, the model professional, ousted Thomas Meunier, who was signed by Paris St. Germain, and once again fended off the attack by Talent Mateu Morey, who was seriously injured after his substitution against Kiel.
The Pole should be in the starting line-up on Saturday in the Bundesliga against RB Leipzig (3:30 p.m. / live Sky) and next Thursday in the DFB Cup final against Saxony.
Should Dortmund qualify for the premier class and win the trophy - there could hardly be a more fantastic career departure for Piszczek.
He would be right in the middle instead of - as was to be feared just a few weeks ago - just there.
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With Piszczek, who has never talked much and hates interviews, a piece of club history will go.
One of the last to remain from the Jürgen Klopp era and who played for BVB throughout.
In 2010 he came free of charge from Hertha BSC, where Favre had previously turned the offensive player into a defensive player.
Legia Warsaw would like to sign him
In Dortmund he became a regular player straight away and won the German championship in 2011, the double in 2012 and reached the Champions League final in 2013 (1: 2 against Bayern Munich).
With his compatriot Jakub Blaszczykowski, who had already come to Dortmund in 2007, he formed a well-rehearsed duo on the right.
Klopp named them both "Lolek and Bolek" - after a Polish cartoon series.
In 2011 Robert Lewandowski completed the Polish BVB community.
Important head of the successful years at BVB: Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Robert Lewandowski (BVB) celebrate goalscorer Lukasz Piszczek (from left)
Source: pa / Avanti-Fotogr / Avanti-Fotografie
In his prime, Piszczek had a top international level. Apart from FC Barcelona's Dani Alves, there were hardly any better full-backs in Europe: Piszczek combined his speed with extremely good positional play - the latter he can rely on to this day. “Lukasz does an excellent job and gives the team a lot of stability. With his experience, he brings in important calm, ”said club boss Hans-Joachim Watzke.
At the moment things are going so well for Piszczek that many do not want to put up with his retirement. Polish media reports that Legia Warsaw, a Champions League aspirant, plans to sign him as a player and assistant coach. Dortmund, on the other hand, accepted Piszczek's decision: it had already taken a lot of effort last summer to persuade him to hang on for one more year.