German Football Association (DFB) sporting director Rudi Völler reviewed Julian Nagelsmann's coaching tenure on SPORT1's "FIROCKX Doppelpass" show and commented on Jürgen Klopp's first training camp. Additionally, Völler criticized the excessively long international breaks.
As he has many times in the past, Völler once again tried to defend Nagelsmann: "I stand by my opinion that, before the World Cup, despite making some media mistakes, he was criticized too harshly." However, the 66-year-old veteran also emphasized that Nagelsmann naturally had to face the sporting results, and the results "just weren't good enough. That's the truth, so things didn't continue."
Klopp? "I'm also a bit curious."
Völler then turned his attention to Klopp, praising the new German national team coach: "From everything I've seen, experienced, and heard in the past few weeks, he's doing an excellent job, even if the results aren't perfect yet." Völler believes that calling up two squads during the two-week international break, which included four Nations League matches, was the right approach. This was to manage player workload and to get to know as many players as possible.
The 66-year-old official said that Klopp "excellently" communicated his tactical philosophy to the players, and he personally found it refreshing. "I'm also a bit curious. Although we've stayed in contact from time to time over the years, the way he conveys these ideas to the young players on the training ground with his coaching staff and in meetings is truly impressive," Völler said.
Völler gives Klopp time
When asked further, he explained: "You can see whether the team plays the way we envision in one or two matches. There are still many areas that need to gel, and that requires a bit of patience. That's what's impressive. I really like it, because it makes no sense if nothing changes after the third World Cup."
Criticism of overly long international breaks
Völler also criticized the three-week international break, revealing that Klopp shares his view on the arrangement: "I had a long phone call with Jürgen Klopp about these four matches, and he shares the same opinion."
In Völler's view, reducing international breaks from three in autumn to only two "made many people uncomfortable." "But this solution is certainly not good," the DFB sporting director criticized.
He added: "We were able to manage things because Jürgen Klopp split the squad into two groups, and that worked fine. It's also acceptable for clubs, but many countries simply cannot do that. They would have to keep playing, and the risk of injury would naturally be very high."
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Völler hopes FIFA and UEFA will reconsider
Völler believes that next year, associations, players, and clubs will face even bigger problems. "Next year will also be challenging. I've already spoken with Jürgen, and we might have four World Cup qualifiers in a row then, and you won't be able to rotate anymore," the 66-year-old official said.
Therefore, Völler concluded: "We all hope that FIFA and UEFA will reconsider and perhaps change it back. Because this doesn't work; it would be better to have three plus three matches, or to return to the original format."
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