On Monday local time, Völler replaced Klopp at the International Coaches' Conference held at the Rheinmetall Hall in Mainz. In the latter part of the press conference, he shared his reflections on the World Cup. Related link: [Völler: Klopp has enough prestige and power to try; Nash can no longer motivate the team]
Discussions surrounding the German national team's accommodations and whether the World Cup should be considered a family trip.
"Our arrangements this time were no different from previous competitions; the players' families met with us the day after the competition ended. The difference was that this time there were photos, because taking photos on-site was unavoidable, and the power of photos is simply too great."
"But we weren't eliminated because Lena Nagelsmann was photographed riding a bicycle. I'm also disappointed with some commentators who have competed themselves and should know better: this kind of thing is completely irrelevant to the team."
"Some rumors about the atmosphere of the competition and the accommodation are completely unfounded. The value of the training camp ultimately depends on the final results. I have participated in three World Cup finals; the road to the finals is always full of challenges, and it is normal for some people to be dissatisfied."
"But boring? At least now the team members can go online. Back in Marend, we only had five square meters of space with two beds in it, and we had to tell each other bedtime stories at night."
Your analysis of the World Cup
“Every player gave their all, but what we still lacked was resilience and the ability to withstand pressure in adversity. We must improve our defense again, not only for the center-backs but for the whole team. Klopp’s challenge is to choose the right lineup to make up for these shortcomings. In addition, we failed to create any real chances against teams that played a tight defense.”
My opinion on the Spanish team
"One of the Spaniards' greatest strengths is their defense, which is ultimately the secret to their great success: they concede very few goals and keep opponents away from their own goal. Spain's defense is so tight that it's unbelievable."
"Because they launched a relentless attack from the very beginning of the game, which is very different from the French team. I feel a bit like my old friend Deschamps: the French team has four attacking players, but none of them are really willing to do the defensive work they are supposed to do."
What are your thoughts on Argentina, the runner-up?
"I don't want a team that plays like Argentina. That has little to do with football itself. Spain's team defense is commendable, and England is commendable in some ways as well."
Discussing the current state of youth team development at all levels in Germany
"After being eliminated early in the World Cup, there's always an instinctive reaction: now we have to start all over again. But we've been on the right track with our training program for the past two or three years—it just hadn't shown up yet. Sporting Director Hannes Wolff has already launched some fantastic initiatives."
"Of course, not everyone likes these moves. But anyone who understands them will realize that they make sense, and Klopp will adopt most of the work that Hannes Wolf has already started. If Klopp can make further improvements in some areas, that would be even better."
Future cooperation with Marc Kosik, advisor to the German Football Association
“He is an important advisor to Klopp. We’ll have to see how things develop. We’ve already had initial contact, and I feel good about it. I believe everything will go smoothly.”
What is the core message you convey to all coaches?
"You can't please everyone, so make decisions like this: even if you lose, you can look in the mirror the next morning and say: I still did the right thing."
