Long-time Bundesliga coach Friedhelm Funkel is very critical of the situation surrounding the German national soccer team ahead of the home European Championships next year.
“When I introduced national coach Julian Nagelsmann, I was completely thrilled when he said he wanted to make everything easier. That’s a great approach, but now I have the feeling that the players are being overwhelmed,” said Funkel, who spoke on Sunday turns 70 years old. As an example, he cited the idea of Kai Havertz on the left defensive side.
“We have players who have been trained excellently, you can’t overload them. You can’t dictate everything. The players have to take it into their own hands,” said the record promotion coach. “We have a lot of good players, but we haven’t been able to implement this successfully for several years. I see big problems there. Maybe we have to change the style of play and be more compact,” said Funkel.
His suggestion: “You have to focus more on the German virtues and demand this from the players. In the past, these virtues existed automatically. If you show fight and passion, the football aspect comes by itself,” said Funkel.
Even at 70, the coaching oldie is not yet tired of his duties. “I don’t rule out working as a trainer somewhere again,” said the Neuss native to the “German Press Agency”. He spends his birthday with family and friends on the Canary Island of Fuerteventura.