Nagelsmann only wants to change “nuances” against Austria – no understanding of Havertz criticism

“Don’t want to play the role of victim”

National coach Julian Nagelsmann will change the German national team “in nuances” for the game against Austria on Tuesday (8.45 p.m./ZDF) in Vienna after the 2:3 against Turkey. “We definitely won’t do completely different things,” Nagelsmann said at a press conference in the Ernst Happel Stadium on Monday. The small changes could “also be of a personnel nature”. The 36-year-old left it open whether Kai Havertz would again play in the defensive movement as a left-back.

“We always try to change something without changing much,” says Nagelsmann. “That’s the approach.” When he took office in September, he introduced a 4-2-2-2 basic order. “Pragmatically, the regulations remain the same,” said the national coach, who announced that he would not make personnel decisions until after the final training session on Monday evening. “It could also be that we see a different player there tomorrow,” explained the coach about the Havertz role. “We’ll see what the forces are like.”

There was no quarter from the national coach for the media scolding over the transfer of Havertz to the position of left full-back. The Arsenal professional played an excellent game and was objectively not to blame for the defeat, said Nagelsmann and provided several statistical values ​​as evidence. In general: negativity, pessimism and “laying everything in ruins” are not a type.

Nagelsmann: As a DFB team, we “must not fall into the role of victim”

Nagelsmann also spoke about the public perception of the DFB team, which he currently finds to be of secondary importance. “I think we would all do well to put the publicity out of our minds for now,” he said. “It’s about us being convinced of the path we’re taking and making the games positive.” The Austria test is the last game until March 2024. The preliminary rounds for the home European Championship will take place in Hamburg on December 2nd drawn. “We have to develop the flow and not fall into the role of victim, then the tide will turn again.”

It’s about “going out with a good feeling, which of course is characterized by a win, but which is also characterized by a good style of play and a good manner on the pitch.” The long break bothers him more because he can’t train his players for so long. “Four months without training is a lot, but we can manage it,” emphasized Nagelsmann.

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