“A big dare”: DFB coach Flick shoots back after criticism

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National coach Hansi Flick (58) has defended himself with unprecedented sharpness against criticism of his person. “I think it is very impudent to say that the national team does not invite players based on the principle of merit,” he said at the 65th International Coaching Congress of the Association of German Football Instructors in Bremen. Oliver Ruhnert, head of sports at Union Berlin, recently denounced exactly this.

Flick continues: “What do we get out of playing players who can’t perform like someone else? That’s why I sometimes find it scandalous how people report it.” Clear words!

He understands that club officials “want to position players” or think otherwise. “But we travel a lot, get an idea and I talk to every coach about the players out there and potential candidates,” says Flick.

The core team for home EM should be in September

In principle, he has to accept “the negative reporting after the latest results”, he emphasizes: “Where people applaud, they also whistle. As a trainer you have to be able to deal with that.” But he could not understand the criticism of the personnel selection in March and the experiment with the chain of three in June because he had announced these measures.

As announced, at the start of the European Championship season in September against Japan and France, Flick wants to put together “the core team” for the 2024 home tournament and “say clearly: this is number one, this position is being fought for.” His eleven must be “goal hungry” and show the “last will to defend goals”. “That is what counts.”

Flick also reports that he had an enlightening conversation with Niklas Süle, whom he criticized (“I appreciate him very much”). And he explains that Joshua Kimmich is still an “option” at right-back. There will be enough time to get the problems under control before the European Championship. “I am absolutely convinced of the path we are taking.” (AFP)

Source : Blick