DFB: Rudi Völler praises Nagelsmann squad and defends trip to the USA

After criticism from Tuchel, Rose & Co.

Sports director Rudi Völler finds the first squad composition of the new national coach Julian Nagelsmann with returnee Mats Hummels (34) and three newcomers “good”. At the same time, on Sunday before the DFB squad met in a Frankfurt airport hotel in the evening, Völler once again defended the upcoming trip to the USA with international matches against the US team in Hartford and against Mexico in Philadelphia as best as he could. “We have to make the best of it,” said Völler on “Bild TV”.

A trip to North America before the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in the USA, Canada and Mexico, was only possible at the current date. “We won’t do it in March when things get down to business in the Bundesliga and Europe,” said Völler in response to the clear criticism of the test match trip from Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel. The players would be able to cope with that – and Nagelsmann would also be considerate “to a certain extent”. Borussia Dortmund’s national players have to play again in the Bundesliga against Werder Bremen just one day after their planned return from America. This DFL appointment “disturbed” him, said Völler: “It was certainly a wrong decision.”

On the other hand, the DFB comeback of the 34-year-old Hummels is correct. “If a player performs well, he deserves to be invited back,” said the former team boss. It is the “duty” of a national coach to reward performance and form. Like Bayern veteran Thomas Müller (34), Hummels could give the team a lot with his experience and lead and take the other players along, said Völler.

The sports director successfully stepped in as interim coach in September after parting ways with Hansi Flick in the 2-1 win against runner-up France. The attitude in the test match is now groundbreaking for the trip to the USA and the further path to the home European Championship in 2024. “Everyone was torn apart. It was like a knockout game. This will also be required in the next games in order to go into the European Championship with a good feeling.”

“Hamster wheel”: RB coach Rose criticizes the large number of games

In addition to Tuchel, RB Leipzig coach Marco Rose was also critical of the large number of games in professional football. “We always talk about the international break. But with teams like us, who have over 80 percent national players, they can’t get out of the hamster wheel,” said the 47-year-old, who fears an increase in injuries, after the 0-0 draw against VfL Bochum. “We have already noticed that there is a lack of freshness at the end.” Leipzig is providing twelve professionals for the current international phase.

During the international matches in September, two of Leipzig’s most important players, playmaker Dani Olmo (259) and captain Willi Orbán (30), were injured and have not played a game since then. “The most important thing will be to see how the boys come back. I’m knocking on that now already on wood,” said Rose with a view to the week after next. Olmo and Benjamin Henrichs (26; torn muscle fiber) who remain in Leipzig should then be fit again.

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