DFB boss defends Nagelsmann after Hoeneß attacks | OneFootball

The statements made by Uli Hoeneß about national coach Julian Nagelsmann continue to cause discussion. Now DFB sports director Rudi Völler has reacted clearly to the criticism of Bayern’s honorary president – and contradicted it

In an interview with the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, the 66-year-old demonstratively backed Nagelsmann and even described some of the accusations as „factually incorrect“

The debate was triggered by statements made by Hoeneß in the FAZ, where the 74-year-old questioned whether Nagelsmann had already succeeded in developing a solid team structure. „If Germany succeeds in becoming a team even though the coach has not managed to play with the same eleven twice in a row – then we have a chance,“ Hoeneß explained

Völler, however, takes a much more differentiated view of the situation

„Everything else is wishful thinking“

photo: IMAGO

The former team boss referred above all to the extraordinarily high workload on the national team players and the numerous injuries in recent months

Since the start of the World Cup qualifiers, Völler has repeatedly been missing key players, including Kai Havertz, Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry

„Anything else is wishful thinking,“ explained the DFB sports director with regard to the demand for a permanently identical starting eleven

Consistent load management has become indispensable, especially in modern soccer

Völler also rejects stadium criticism

In addition to the personnel changes, it had also recently been discussed that Nagelsmann rarely appeared live in the stadium. Völler did not want to accept this criticism either. „I am a romantic who likes to be in the stadium. Julian handles it a little differently,“ said the 66-year-old

At the same time, however, he emphasized: „He’s still totally crazy about soccer and watches games all the time.“

Although a national coach must also show himself in public, this is exactly what Nagelsmann also does regularly, according to Völler

The statements show that there is still full backing for the national coach within the DFB – despite public criticism from Uli Hoeneß.