They were the shining stars of the Sparta Rotterdam academy, yet the explosive temperaments of Memphis Depay and Kevin Strootman left the coach charged with honing their youthful talents questioning whether the duo would ever fulfil their potential.
Richard Grootscholten was a pivotal figure in Sparta's youth-team setup during the period when two of the best young players Dutch football has produced in recent years were learning the game.
Grootscholten, who has worked alongside Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal on Dutch FA coaching initiatives, told ESPN FC in an exclusive interview that the early development of Manchester United star Depay and Roma midfielder Strootman was a challenging road and one that could easily have ended in failure.