Returnees in the DFB team
National player Niklas Süle ticked off national coach Hansi Flick’s fitness reminder. “He told me his motivations. I have to accept that,” said the central defender on Wednesday. But he doesn’t have to “always understand them one-to-one because I think I had a good year at Borussia Dortmund and I think I deserved to be there.”
Flick gave up the 28-year-old in June and publicly warned in an interview that Süle had to work on his form. “It’s not an issue that’s only been with me since yesterday,” said the BVB professional. “I believe that Hansi and I have a very, very good relationship, we have (at FC Bayern; ed.) celebrated a lot of great successes together and therefore always have an open and honest exchange.”
The 24-man squad of the DFB for the international matches in September
There’s no point in “pouting”. The decisive factor is “how you deal with the situation,” said Süle. “I deal with it very well, with the things that are written about me and still try to do my best every weekend, every game. Now Hansi seems to have liked it again and that’s why I’m back.”
Criticism of trip to the USA: “Date not quite so well chosen”
Meanwhile, he is critical of an international trip to the USA in the middle of the season. “I see it with my colleagues who travel ten hours somewhere in Africa or with Giovanni Reyna who comes back jet lagged after games for the USA. In my opinion, the date is not quite so well chosen,” said Süle on Thursday in Wolfsburg. The 28-year-old was only in the USA during the pre-season with Borussia Dortmund.
The DFB selection will play two friendlies on the American East Coast on October 14 in Hartford against the USA and three days later in Philadelphia against Mexico. The trip starts on Monday, October 9th. The return flight is on Wednesday 18 October. Just two days later, the Bundesliga game continues with Dortmund versus Bremen. The Bundesliga clubs are therefore also critical of the trip. DFB sports director Rudi Völler, in turn, defended the association’s plans. It is important to be there with a view to the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
Jonas Hofmann from Leverkusen spoke of “divided opinions” at the DFB press conference. He goes along with the arguments against the trip, but is still looking forward to experiencing something there. “I’m happy to take on the stress of the flight and the time change,” said the 31-year-old. “But our bodies are our assets and are being compromised.”
Goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen has no personal experience of traveling overseas during the season. Of course, he does point out to his national team colleagues at FC Barcelona, for example when they return from assignments in South America, that they are not physically “one hundred percent” when they return from the trip.
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