Before departure for two international matches in the USA on October 9th, the German Football Association (DFB) wants to present a new national coach for the senior national team. Rudi Völler said this on Monday (September 11th, 2023) during the press conference in Dortmund.
“Our main task now is to find a national coach relatively quickly,” said Völler, who will oversee the DFB’s selection against France on Tuesday (9 p.m., live on Erste and in the stream on sportschau.de) in collaboration with youth director Hannes Wolf and former national player Sandro Wagner.
Völler did not want to comment on names like Julian Nagelsmann and Louis van Gaal, who are being considered as successors to Hansi Flick, who was released on Sunday after the embarrassing 4-1 defeat against Japan.
Völler: “It’s a unique thing for me”
However, he ruled out that he himself would be responsible for the national team again for a longer period of time, even if against France (“This is the best team in Europe, there’s no doubt about it.”) achieved a convincing victory and the fans shouted his name. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing for me”said the 63-year-old Völler. He didn’t even want to get involved in the game against the 2018 world champion and runner-up at the tournament in Qatar four years later: “I don’t want to say I had to be persuaded, but I don’t like it.”
Völler, who as team boss lost the 2002 World Cup final with Germany against Brazil, only said a few words about the requirements profile of the new national coach. “One or two ideas” The new guy should bring a bit of optimism, ideally regardless of the results.
Völler confirmed that he, together with DFB President Bernd Neuendorf and his powerful deputy Hans-Joachim Watzke, decided to leave Flick on Sunday. “Even though I previously believed that I would be able to turn things around, it was simply no longer possible to continue with Hansi. In this constellation it was simply no longer possible.”said Völler, but Flick would still stay for him “a super trainer”.
Gündogan remains captain
Also sitting on the podium in the almost overcrowded media room of the Dortmund stadium was Ílkay Gündoğan, who had been named by Flick as the permanent captain before the game against Japan and would remain so, Völler assured.
He also stated that Gündogan said goodbye to Flick “very wonderful speech given” have, for which it “there was a lot of applause”. The captain noted: “The mood in the team is a mix of sadness, frustration and disappointment. Like some other players, I have the feeling that I have let Hansi down.”
The one from Manchester City Midfielder who moved to FC Barcelona admitted that the national team currently lacks unconditional mutual support, although the mood off the pitch is good: “I think our main task is to change that.”
Völler announced that there would be “a maximum of three changes” in the starting lineup compared to the game against Japan. Völler left it open whether Joshua Kimmich would be used again as a right-back, moving into central midfield when he had the ball.
It is important against France “Strengthening defensively, we’ve made far too many mistakes recently”.