For Nati director Tami, a final round without Yakin is conceivable: “It is up for discussion who will go to the European Championships.”

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Association chairman Dominique Blanc said before the last meeting that they would definitely travel to the European Championships with Murat Yakin. The coach himself refers to the president’s word. But now nothing is certain anymore. Because Nati director Pierluigi Tami finds clear words after this extremely disappointing team with only two points from three games and missing out on the group win and gives no guarantee that the Nati coach will still be called Yakin on January 1.

Blick: Pierluigi Tami, this qualifying campaign must be classified as unsatisfactory. Agreed?
Pierluigi Tami: Absolute! Naturally, the most important goal was achieved, namely qualifying. But I was worried about qualifying in recent months and had serious doubts, so I was really relieved after the match in Kosovo. Because we did it at a time when the team is inefficient. We are also not solid anymore, we scored goals in every game. Four wins, five draws and one defeat are not enough.

A team that is no longer solid should be a cause for concern.
In football things sometimes move quickly. We were great for four games in March and June. The 2-2 draw against Romania was an industrial accident that sometimes occurs in football. By October and November it was all gone. We will also discuss this with coach Murat Yakin. He was a coach in the spring and fall. For the first time in history we were favorites. Clearly favourite. We are obviously not ready for this role.

The way the team presents itself today, you can’t say that you will definitely go to the European Championship with Yakin, can you?
The question is who goes to the European Championships, what is best for the European Championships. Yakin has a contract valid until the end of the European Championship. This in-depth analysis will now be crucial. Also on Murat’s side. I want to know from him what happened and what the solutions are.

So it may be that the problem lies with Yakin and that a new coach is needed.
I wanted Yakin as a coach. We had a World Cup qualifying through the main entrance that no one expected. In the Nations League we lost the first three games and retained Group A with the three subsequent wins. Murat has now qualified. This way he achieved all his goals. But the development of the team, this nervousness on the pitch, this shortcoming cannot be hidden. It’s not all coincidence or bad luck. We have to think in all directions.

Do we need strong decisions now?
What does that mean? To extend the contract with Murat?

…or solve it.
There is no need for strong decisions based on emotions. We have to stay calm and keep a cool head. When we hired Murat, we did it without emotion. We deliberately took a coach from the Challenge League and not one from the Bundesliga or Serie A. If strong decisions are needed, we will make them. But if the analysis shows that it is best to continue with Murat, we will do so.

The development of the team is not good.
Admittedly, it was a step backwards. Even though the statistics show that we dominated every match, with more possession and more shots than the opponents, who scored with their few shots on target. We were not present at the important moment. It was a negative development.

Will you participate in the draw on December 2 with Murat Yakin?
Yes. I want to come to the appointment with Murat as soon as possible. But that will be a few days after the draw.

Before this meeting, association chairman Dominique Blanc said that they would certainly travel to the European Championships with Yakin. This refers to this promise. Now you’re wondering…
If the president says that, the president decides – and not Tami (laughs)… No, I haven’t presented my report yet and he hasn’t spoken to Tami yet. These two weeks were very difficult for Murat. He has lost a bit of his self-confidence. There were sad moments for him too. But I have my opinion.

Do you know?
Not now. The discussions take place first.

How much responsibility do you have?
The Technical Director does not intervene in the technical, tactical or strategic decisions of the coach. He only checks whether all necessary elements work. I did not always see these elements in this campaign. How many right backs a coach wants to use is his responsibility. I told Murat just before Qatar that the best were there, but that three places had to be filled by juniors.

Then there was open criticism of captain Granit Xhaka’s coach. That’s your job, to intervene.
I did that too. After the first match in Kosovo with Granit’s criticism of training, I spoke to them both for ten minutes and then let them talk privately. They confirmed that this interview was necessary and useful. A few days before the next qualifying match I told Granit that this was a clear mistake. The authority of the trainer must be retained in all cases.

Do you keep a list of names of possible successors to Yakin?
I know it’s your job to ask something like that. But I won’t answer that…

Source : Blick