Former Germany manager lambasts Italian football – “Yamal would be playing in Italian second division” | OneFootball

In a recent interview, former Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann was very direct in his criticism of Italian football.

The former Hertha and USMNT coach particularly criticised Italian football’s tendency not to give chances to young players, joking that someone like Lamine Yamal would have been playing in the second division if he was from Italy.

Klinsmann’s quip towards Italian football

Speaking to RAI (h/t Diario SPORT), Klinsmann described the lack of youth development programs in Italy while mentioning Yamal and Jamal Musiala.

“They are paying the consequences of the lack of leaders, players with good technique and confidence in the youngsters. In Italy, Lamine Yamal and Musiala would probably play in Serie B to gain experience. And that can’t be,” he said.

Having managed talents such as Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski, Klinsmann is well aware of the concept of honing talents. But he believes such a thing doesn’t exist in Italy.

Klinsmann briefly coached the South Korean national team. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

In addition to the lack of youth development, he also pointed out the lack of a winning mentality, even among coaches.

“Tactical culture is also an obstacle. Many coaches, even today, work with the goal of not losing rather than wanting to win at all costs. And these are the results,” he added.

Klismann’s comments come on the back of Italy’s shock exit in the World Cup qualifiers at the hands of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The result means that Italy won’t be participating in the World Cup for the third time in a row. They last participated in the revered tournament way back in 2014.

Klinsmann, meanwhile, is currently in between jobs, having last managed the South Korean national team before leaving in 2024.