At 12 p.m. sharp, the new man enters the hall with a short “Hello”. He doesn’t say much more at first; it’s others’ turn first, Bernd Neuendorf, the President of the German Football Association (DFB), who is proud to sit here and present the new national coach, “offers a strong and convincing solution the top of our national team”.
Neuendorf speaks of the selection process, the first personal interview on Tuesday and the “intrinsic motivation” that could be felt in Nagelsmann: “You didn’t have to convince him.” Then it’s Rudi Völler’s turn, the sports director, he calls it one “It was a stroke of luck” that such a man was free at this unusual time, and when he talked about his experience, eight years at the highest level, he got Nagelsmann’s first laugh – pointing out that the last time it happened was in Munich. “There was a bit of turbulence,” “but that’s sometimes the case with Bayern.”
Nagelsmann and FC Bayern give up money
Völler prefers to rave about the great accommodation from Nagelsmann, but also from Munich. No figures are given, but it is clear to everyone that both the candidate and his previous employer gave up money to make this New Deal for German football possible.
It becomes clear that it is about big things, even more than football, when Nagelsmann takes the floor and speaks not only of “a lot of enthusiasm” and “great anticipation”, but also of a “sense of responsibility”. To make the home European Championship 2024 a success, a tournament “in a great country with a hopefully great outcome,” as he says, in which attractive football makes it possible to “push ourselves positively as a whole nation.” He later said that he knew that it was “national interest” to play a good European Championship at home.
But that’s the only thing that seems a bit thick about Nagelsmann’s first public appearance in a new role. Shortly beforehand, he presented himself to the committees that approved the contract, which is valid until the end of July 2024, after which he is expected at the association’s amateur congress – it is also about engaging the base and showing solidarity.
But what is most interesting is the question of how Nagelsmann will approach the job with the A-Team, with what idea of football in particular. As far as this is concerned, he came up with his own headline: “With a good, healthy aggressiveness towards the opponent’s goal,” he says, which means: “Presence in the box,” “Creating stress on the opponent,” making sure that it “hurts, to play against us.”
He admits that it was rather painful to watch the German team play recently, out of a “certain compassion” for the protagonists, who were harshly judged and in whom he sees “extremely much potential”. Relegation battle like once in Hoffenheim? No, it’s better to have the positive, competitive thought that you always want to win the game or tournament you go to.
“Simplicity is a good keyword,” he says about how this could be achieved in such a short time, and adds with a pinch of self-irony that he “won’t play with 14 different basic orders”: “Don’t worry!” But a certain amount Adaptability is necessary. Support will come from his assistants Benjamin Glück and Sandro Wagner, as well as Völler, whom he considers “part of the coaching team”. As for the players, he only reveals one detail: Ilkay Gündogan will also be his captain.
Christopher Meltzer, Munich Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 3 A comment from Anno Hecker Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 31 Christopher Meltzer, Munich Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 5 A comment from Christopher Meltzer Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 9
When Nagelsmann left the podium after almost an hour, he had a tidy first appearance behind him, a mixture of noticeable fire, healthy pragmatism and a touch of relaxedness. What can come of this will “hopefully” be seen in the next two international matches, he said. On October 9th, he and his team set off for the USA.
