At the press conference before the second leg against Italy in the Nations League, Julian Nagelsmann is confronted with a special question – and starts a significant criticism.
National coach Julian Nagelsmann complains about the falling importance of sport in Germany. At the DFB press conference before the National League second leg against Italy, the 37-year-old started a clear plea-triggered by a question from T-Online.
“You have been in the coaching business for many years, have been national coaches for a year and a half – what is the importance of sport in Germany and what developments do you perceive yourself?” Wanted to know T-online reporter Benjamin Zurmühl on Saturday afternoon by Nagelsmann.
The national coach had to take a deep breath. “Phew. This is a blatant question, such a day before the game,” said Nagelsmann, putting a detailed answer: “Phew, where do I start? In my eyes, the sport has too little importance – not as far as the number of spectators is concerned, but from a socio -political point of view,” he continued.
The problem is somewhere else: “The importance is too low at school, in kindergartens, and in normal society too.” From a special point of view, this is fatal: “For me, of course, it is about a certain joy that you should link to sport. Then it is about health: we have an extreme demographic development, and if younger people in Germany are not great, then the health system is more stressful and it is becoming increasingly difficult to finance everything. We have to try to keep the expenses at the small extent possible.
Nagelsmann confirmed the positive effect of sport, especially on children and adolescents: “I also believe that movement to a certain extent, not just an hour a week in school lessons, is simply important to clear your head for the subjects, which may then have a little more important for life.”
However: “Not every competitive athlete or a professional athlete does not have to be, but if I move a bit again at least 20 minutes before math – I am not a scientist, but I have already read a few texts that you will likely be the likelihood that you will notice the binomic formulas, a little higher than if you were sitting for eight hours before.”
Nagelsmann also believes “that it is good for the children and people – and of course also connects.” He remembers his own youth: “I have already said on countless press conferences that we have always been a country of the clubs. When I was young, we went to the shooting club on Friday evening. I think I once shot with the air rifle, but it was more about the currywurst and sitting together and chatting.” Not only that: “Then everyone was actually in the football club or in the music club. Then there was a traditional costume club, there was almost everyone who looked somewhat in the leather pants. Then there was a boys’ club.”
This situation has changed questionably: “Today there is actually no longer that much apart from the football club, everyone is a little more busy with themselves.” In the club “there was always a great feeling of community. You could rely on it: If you need something, then you will also find someone who can help in the club,” said Nagelsmann and concluded with the remark: “I would also be happy if the importance increases again.”