National team
Völler about stress after Flick-Aus: “Not expected”
DFB sports director Rudi Völler admits that his job as interim team boss was strenuous. photo
© Jörg Halisch/dpa
Rudi Völler himself did not expect the stress of being interim coach of the national team. In an interview he also talks about “this gift” from national coach Julian Nagelsmann.
He had “many conversations” and “a lot had to be sorted out” after national coach Hansi Flick was released. “Even though I’m an old hand, I didn’t expect all the necessities in this pronounced form.”
Under Völler, the national team got back on the road to success with a 2-1 win in the friendly against vice world champions France, which will be maintained under the new national coach Julian Nagelsmann. Völler said they had “made something up again”: “We now need to expand on that with Julian.”
Appeal to fans: “Believe in us!”
The former coach of FC Bayern Munich is “young, dynamic and is totally on fire after not working as a coach for a while.” Nagelsmann has “this gift” of igniting enthusiasm for his game idea. Völler asked the German fans: “Believe in us!” For Flick, the backpack from the completely unsuccessful World Cup in Qatar was “too heavy in the end,” said Völler. He is still “convinced that we will see him again at a good club or with an association.”
After initial skepticism, Völler no longer sees the US trip in October with test games against hosts USA (October 14th) and against Mexico (October 18th) as negative. It might be “really good to be away from home for a while,” said the 63-year-old. In addition, there are “so many professionals in the Bundesliga who have been on long international trips for years because of their background. Ours can do that.” It’s also good to show off in the co-host country of the 2026 World Cup.”