This is how Mittelstädt explains the bitter DFB bankruptcy
06.09.2025 16:55 | 2: 30m
Maximilian Mittelstädt from VfB Stuttgart has processed the Herbe DFB defeat against Slovakia. In an exclusive conversation with RTL/NTV and Sport.de, the defense lawyer says: Against Northern Ireland (Sunday, from 7:05 p.m. at RTL) everything should get better.
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Maybe the first time. The defeat came relatively surprising. The criticism is quite violent too. How do you deal with it personally? Then what do you do after such a game?
Yes, so of course you notice that criticism exists, after such a game, of course, is also justified. I personally do not deal with the criticism now, but actually behave as after any other game. Of course there are games where the criticism is bigger and sometimes the criticism is a bit lower. Sure, if you go into such a game as a favorite and then don’t give a good appearance. Of course, the criticism is extremely large, especially in a country like Germany. But I think I have already went through that 100 times in my career and so I now know how to deal with it and have to deal with it. And that’s why I don’t take it to heart as maybe a few years ago.
And they actually made a very good game, as I at least found. You have just said that as a team you are aware of why it didn’t work. Can you explain it a little bit, even for the fan? What goes beyond mentality? Perhaps. What was the problem?
I just think basically, we have now felt that everything felt like it 100 times, read and written that you simply did not get into the game well, that we did not get this job in our game that we, which we would have needed, we, which we would have needed, have this 100 % resistance. The Slovaks, who simply made it extremely difficult for us, went on it from the start, had chances in the first few minutes, which simply made a bad feeling. And you never have the feeling that we were really good in the game. We also had scores and on good days you take advantage of the chances and then the game looks different. But we just not succeeded and we know that we just didn’t come into play and designed the game as we set out to be, which we are able to do. And of course that annoys us the most. And now, as I said, have the chance to do better tomorrow. And I think we are able to do this and are ready for the game tomorrow.
Maxi Which face will the German team then show against Northern Ireland?
Hopefully a successful face and an offensive face that we enjoy people again, as we have done in the past. Playing offensive football with lots of chances, hopefully many goals and then go off the pitch as the winner.