With a lot of respect for Italy’s national team, national coach Julian Nagelsmann goes into the two quarter -final games of the Nations League. On Thursday in Milan (8:45 p.m.) and in the second leg on Sunday in Dortmund (also 8:45 p.m.), Joshua Kimmich is set right. “He is by far the best right -back we have.”
Nagelsmann said at the press conference the evening before the game in the Guiseppe-Mazza Stadium. One drove very well with the Bayern captain in this position, “purely objective, from the values, he was the best right -back at the European Championship.”
In the goalkeeper position, the national coach was not so easy for Oliver Baumann’s decision. “It was a millimeter decision”said the 37-year-old, “And Alex (Alexander Nübel, d. Red.) It really took it up. “ As a reason for the election of Baumann, Nagelsmann said: “The last rash gave the slightly larger consistency that we saw at Olli.” But the line -up only applies to the two quarter -final games. “We have a goalkeeper with Marc (Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, i.e. Red.) Who is outstandingly good and who deserves it”said Nagelsmann to the sports show, “We now see how it works with his recovery. It is above everything that it gets well again.” German No. 1 suffered a tore of the patella tendon in September 2024.
Rüdiger: “Title is title”
After the starting difficulties in the Nations League in recent years, the tournament has recently become significantly more important – the sporting status is now significantly higher. “We licked blood at the European Championship”said central defender Antonio Rüdiger, “The mood we had. And if we get on in the quarter -finals, we have a small mini tournament in Germany.” And he added: “Title is title. Maybe not like the Champions League, or like a World Cup. But the title is title.”
Julian Nagelsmann did not want to participate in the title announcement of his player: “It’s about winning games and also playing a good World Cup qualification and also a good World Cup. We want to win the Nations League.” But, with a view to the opponent, respect is important: “We have an extremely strong opponent with Italy. Only when we have solved this task can we also speak towards the title.”
“Cool playing” by Spaletti
Keyword respect: When Nagelsmann speaks about the way of playing the “Squadra Azzurra” and her trainer, the football instructor really gets enthusiastic. “You have a really good trainer who stands for a very attractive football who plays a very cool football in all his stations – most recently in Naples. He is really offensive, not only from the staff, but also from positioning.” And Nagelsmann is also enthusiastic about the good defense work typical of Italy: “They not only defend deep in the Catenaccio block, they also defend high and are very good in counterpressing.”
Rüdiger: Bisseck should “be himself”
For the first time in the circle of the national team, Yann Aurel Bisseck is. The national coach did not want to reveal whether the Inter Milan defender was used in his home stadium. He should get used to getting to know the other players. Nagelsmann’s first impression of the 1.96 meter -tall native of Cologne: “He comes across well and has a positive charisma. That is very important to me.”
And asked what Rüdiger could teach his defense colleague, Real Madrid’s defense boss said: “He should be himself, should find his own self. I always wanted to be the best version of myself – and I am today. I can give that on the way.”