National team
Sule’s new serenity: “Hansi” likes it again
Looking ahead with optimism: Niklas Süle. photo
© Julian Stratenschulte/dpa
Niklas Süle didn’t understand the national coach’s fitness memo, but ticked it off with a look ahead. The central defender is back in the middle of the DFB selection.
With veteran Thomas Müller on one hand and newcomer Pascal Groß on the other Niklas Süle obviously having fun warming up in the Wolfsburg sun.
Three months after the fitness memo from national coach Hansi Flick, the defensive giant from Borussia Dortmund is back in the middle of the national football team. And he wants to stay. “Now Hansi seems to have liked it again, and that’s why I’m back,” said the 28-year-old with a grin.
In June, Flick once again dispensed with the central defender and warned in an interview that Süle urgently needed to work on his form and fitness. In retrospect, it wasn’t the worst time for the BVB professional – the DFB selection disappointed and conceded six goals against Ukraine (3: 3), in Poland (0: 1) and against Colombia (0: 2). three games without a win. In particular, it was remembered that Süle allegedly does not always take his professional football job too seriously.
“This is not an issue that has only accompanied me since yesterday,” said Süle. “I think that Hansi and I have a very, very good relationship. We’ve celebrated a lot of great successes together at FC Bayern and that’s why we always have an open and honest exchange.” It makes no sense for him to “sulk around”.
National coach sees positive development at Süle
The national coach explained the motives to him. Süle accepts this – even if he “does not always have to understand the reasoning one-to-one”. In his opinion, a nomination in the summer would have been deserved. The decisive factor is “how you deal with the situation,” said Süle. “I deal with it very well, with the things that are written about me. I still try to do my best every weekend, every game.”
Flick recently described Süle’s development as “very positive”. It was also reported to him by BVB. In Dortmund, people were amazed when 28-year-old Süle returned from vacation. “He understood that. I can say that he did a lot more on vacation than everyone else because he just wanted to prepare better and more intensively for this season,” said BVB sports director Sebastian Kehl. “If Niklas stays healthy and works on his issues, he will get much, much better.”
Tough competition in the DFB team
In the national team, however, the central defender will have to prove himself again. Real Madrid’s Antonio Rüdiger is set in central defense with Flick. And alongside him, AC Milan’s young Malick Thiaw is pushing into the starting XI. In June, the 22-year-old was one of the few bright spots during the botched friendlies in Süle’s absence.
“I’m the wrong contact person, Hansi has to decide whether I play or not,” Süle replied when asked about his claims. “I can give it a go in training and I can give it a go at the club and hope to play.” In competitive sports, everyone has to try to “make the decision as difficult as possible for the coaches. There’s no room for bad thoughts, because you have to deliver anyway.”
The fact that shortly after the training of the DFB selection, the German basketball players had made it to the semi-finals at the World Cup in Asia, Süle only followed in passing. He wishes continued success, he said, but: “I prefer to play golf.” And Süle grinned again.