BUndestrainer Joachim Löw clearly contradicted the German Football Association in the public image after the 0: 6 in Spain. “There was a press release that the coach needed emotional distance,” said the 60-year-old in a video interview on Monday. “That was incomprehensible to me because I don’t need emotional distance.” He has been with us for a long time and has seen a lot. “I said, give me a day and then I’ll be ready for any conversation.” Löw was “very” annoyed that in the past few days content from internal discussions with the DFB had come to the public: “That has disappointed me personally. “
The DFB announced a week ago – almost two weeks after the Nations League game in Seville – that Löw would remain national coach. On Friday, DFB director Oliver Bierhoff presented the analysis of the sporting situation in detail. Löw was surprised at the criticism that he should have dived for. “Anyone who knows me knows that I am open to constructive criticism and can deal with it,” he said. “Anyone who knows me knows that I will also present myself.” The schedule was also due to the fact that there was no earlier appointment with the DFB Presidium.
Löw did not go into detail on the advance of DFB President Fritz Keller, who suggested that Löw resign after the EM next year. He confirmed, however, that he had “spoken” to Keller over the phone: “This is the end of the matter for me.” Overall, things had happened “that were not in order”. Löw expressed the wish for “unity and trust” to the DFB. The 2014 world champion coach never thought of resigning. “I didn’t have that thought,” he said.
The national coach does not want to deviate from his path despite the last disappointing games with the 0: 6 in Spain as a low point. “We follow our red line and we are also convinced that there has been and will be a good development,” said a combative Löw and emphasized: “There is no reason to throw everything upside down.” Basically, the young one is Apart from the Spain game, the national team is on the right track.
He admitted that “development has stopped in 2020”, but pointed out that there had been a long pause because of the coronavirus pandemic. With three games in nine days, hardly any training units were possible. “The clear directive was that we put the health of the players above everything. We need players who are physically and mentally fresh into the tournament, ”said Löw.
Alone in the online press talk at the DFB headquarters: Löw in front of the camera
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Image: dpa
He emphasized the goal of playing the “best possible” European football championship in 2021. In advance, it is difficult to talk about exact specifications, said Löw. “The expectations are certainly very high, but that is our own claim. We want to get as far as possible, reach the final, win the tournament. ”But he knew that“ many things ”could happen in a tournament, said Löw:“ We go step by step into a tournament. ”
Löw still sees no reason “at the moment” for the former world champions Thomas Müller, Mats Hummels and Jérôme Boateng to return to the German national soccer team. On Monday, however, the 60-year-old emphasized more clearly than in previous months that everything would be put to the test in the coming year before the European Football Championship in 2021. “Before the nomination we turn every stone over again, and then we have to see what will bring us the greatest possible success?” He will do everything for that.
Löw had sorted out the trio in March 2019, after the desolate 0: 6 in Spain, the discussion about a comeback at least from Müller or Hummels had become loud again. “A coach is always the very first to be held responsible for success in the end,” said Löw. “I always said that when we see next year – that is the most important task – okay, this team still needs this or that to be successful, then we will do it.”
It is not only purely sporting things to consider. “What is the team’s energy like?” Said Loew. He will do “everything imaginable in the interests of success” to ensure success. At the moment he cannot say how the situation will be before the next international matches in March.
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