Hansi Flick praises the mentality of his team after the fourth win in the fourth game under his direction. Bending a game is an important development step. He praises Goretzka and strengthens Werner. In North Macedonia, the next step towards the World Cup is to be made on Monday (8.45 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for World Cup qualifications and on RTL). Questions to the national coach in the press conference after the national soccer team’s 2-1 win against Romania in the World Cup qualification on Friday evening in Hamburg.
Fourth game, fourth win – what is your analysis like?
I think it was a deserved win, even if it was a little harder. We played against a team that can defend very well and has good footballers. When we conceded we made one or two mistakes in terms of positioning. But it was also a great individual achievement. You still have to compliment the team. She kept the pace very high for over 90 minutes. She was very eager to win this game. With a great mentality, she also took the audience with her. Bending a game like this is also part of the development we are currently having.
How much have you benefited from being able to add more from the bank, such as with Thomas Müller as the joker to make it 2-1?
Leon Goretzka was already heavily involved in both goals. He was one of the deciding factors for the 1: 1 equalization. And at 2: 1 Leon extended the ball again. There was the conviction of him, the will, the mentality to turn the game. He was a very big role model for us. I’m also happy for the spectators that they saw us win.
You probably don’t have more competition anywhere than in the 10th position. This time Marco Reus was allowed to start there, Thomas Müller and Kai Havertz came in. How do you see the situation?
Not only did we have a good ten position. We have filled many positions well and we can improve them. The quality in the team is very high. And the attitude is great too.
There was another standard goal – as it was against Iceland – this time to the winning goal. Has the new specialist trainer Mads Buttgereit soon earned a raise?
Of course we thought about why we took it for this. I’m happy that such an important standard goal brought us victory. We train that even when we have little time. I think we’re a bit further on that.
On the right in the back you have set up Jonas Hofmann again. Does he have a nose in front for now?
Jonas has shown again that he has a high quality on the offensive, but is also willing to work on the defensive and to stand up for himself. He did well. He has to work hard in the full-back position. He has to get used to that. Overall, I am very happy with everyone.
Many crosses and crosses have not found the addressee. How can you remedy this shortcoming?
It was our shortcoming that the last pass and the precision was missing in the last third. It’s also about being well positioned in the box. But I am in good spirits. Maybe raise my head in front again before I play the pass. And also see the back area again. These are the things that we have to do better.
You’re flying back to North Macedonia on Sunday. This is the team that won 2-1 in the first leg in Duisburg. Are you going to go into the game again? Or do you say that it was still under Joachim Löw, that I have nothing to do with it?
First of all we will work through this game. And as always, we will do the analysis of North Macedonia the day before the game against them. It is the next important step towards the World Cup in Qatar. We want to qualify as quickly as possible. At the moment we’re six points ahead. The point is that we have the same mentality on Monday in Skopje as we do today.
Timo Werner had a hard time attacking. What are you up to? One had the impression that a classic center forward would have done the game good. What do you think?
Counter question, what is a classic center forward? Timo is perfectly capable of opening up the rooms, even in tight spaces. He also has a nose for ricochets. It was that he didn’t always have the positioning that it needed. You had the feeling that he was too much on the same level with whoever had the ball on the outside, whether Serge (Gnabry) or Leroy (Sané). I would like to highlight Timo: In Leipzig he had at least 25 to 30 goal participations every year. He’s a striker who can score goals, who knows how to do it. At Chelsea he plays in a top team that has tremendous quality in their ranks. With us he gets the jobs he needs. He gets the backing, that’s the most important thing for a striker.
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