Uli Hoeneß, the influential figure at FC Bayern, has once again publicly criticized national team coach Julian Nagelsmann.
When asked by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung if he saw a chance for the German national team to achieve great success at the upcoming World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, Hoeneß stated: «If Germany manages to become a team, even though the coach hasn’t succeeded in playing the same lineup twice in a row – then we have a chance.»
This sentiment echoes his recent remarks to DAZN, where he accused Nagelsmann of inconsistency in his team selections and call-ups. While it’s acknowledged that the national coach has faced numerous injuries to key players during the immediate World Cup preparations, leading to unforeseen lineup changes, Hoeneß remains critical.
Players like Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala were sidelined for months, and Aleksandar Pavlovic repeatedly withdrew due to illness or injury. Felix Nmecha suffered a severe knee injury before the March test matches and only recently returned to action for Dortmund.
Despite these challenges, Hoeneß emphasized that he attributes the lack of cohesion in the DFB team to Nagelsmann and has communicated this to him directly. Nagelsmann reportedly reacted with mild offense, which Hoeneß found «completely okay.» Now, the FC Bayern honorary president has doubled down on his criticism.
Uli Hoeneß Compares Nagelsmann to Kompany at FC Bayern: ‘He Thinks He Wins the Game’
Hoeneß remarked in the FAS that the situation in the national team is «the same as with us,» referencing the discussions surrounding FC Bayern before the season began. He recalled, «Everyone said: The squad is too small, the squad is not good enough. But then the coach made all the players better, and above all, he made a team out of the players,» he stated. The 74-year-old clarified that, in his opinion, Nagelsmann is not mirroring Vincent Kompany’s approach: «Our national coach thinks he wins the game. No, the team wins the game.»
Previously, during his DAZN interview, Hoeneß had criticized Nagelsmann for a perceived lack of «willingness to listen and accept.» He added, «He will have to live with his decisions. If he is successful, I will be the first to congratulate him. If not, it will be difficult for him.»
Nagelsmann Shows Understanding Regarding Undav and Postpones Squad Announcement
On the matter of Deniz Undav, Nagelsmann appears to have listened to the vocal criticism and apologized for his public remarks regarding the strong-performing Stuttgart striker’s role as a substitute. «It wasn’t right and was also too sharp for the public. I said: ‘It was stupid of me, I’m sorry,'» Nagelsmann shared on the talk series ‘Bestbesetzung’ on MagentaTV.
Nagelsmann will now enter the crucial World Cup preparations on May 21st, when he is set to announce his squad for the tournament. This announcement was originally scheduled for May 12th, but Nagelsmann reportedly wanted to wait for the final Bundesliga matchday to get a last impression of currently injured DFB players.
Two test matches are scheduled for the end of May and early June: on May 31st in Mainz against Finland, and on June 6th against the USA in Chicago. The World Cup will then commence eight days later with the opening match against Curacao.