Bierhoff: “We’ve gained in flexibility”

Two days before the World Cup qualifier against the Czech Republic (Friday at 20:45 CEST), team manager Oliver Bierhoff and Confederations Cup winners Jonas Hector and Joshua Kimmich took part in the first press conference at the Stuttgart Mercedes-Benz-Museum. DFB.de collected the best quotes.

Oliver Bierhoff on

…the team’s current situation: The qualifiers come quite quickly after the beginning of the season. The whole team meets four times after this so it’s not very much time. The Confed Cup allowed us to give the younger players room to grow, to give them a platform to get some good match time. The Confed Cup winners have got good momentum from the victory. They can add that to the already established squad. All this means that we will go into the 2018 World Cup with good prospects and as one of the favourites. Of course, the pressure is different at a World Cup but we have depth in all positions.

…Thomas Müller: He is unique, a big presence in the squad. Thomas gives everything for 90 minutes; he is always pushing the team on.

…competition in the squad: The Confederations Cup was a great victory but you have to put it into perspective. There will be harder opponents at the World Cup, nevertheless this doesn’t mean any of the older players, like Toni Kroos for example, is necessarily guaranteed a starting space. There are many options and there may be injuries, too.

…the importance of regulars in the team: A head coach has the freedom to say, I want so or so a player in a particular situation because of his particular characteristics.

…World Cup accommodation: I’ve been looking into the team’s World Cup accommodation for over a year now. We’re going to take the next two months to think about the different alternatives. It’s difficult because we have to submit our requests quite early. We’ll have to make a decision on which trips are necessary because the venues are quite dispersed.

Jonas Hector on

…the beginning of World Cup season: What’s important now are the international matches, the team, our training sessions. The World Cup itself is in the background.

…his fitness after the Confed Cup: I went on holiday for three weeks and then came back for the second training camp. I don’t feel behind physically – I don’t think it’s a problem that the international break comes so early.

…competition for places: Of course you want to avoid someone takes your place. Everyone gives it 100%.

…the Czech Republic: We know them from the home game. They tried to put us under pressure by playing at a quick tempo. It’s possible that they try those tactics again but we know what to do. We’ll be prepared.

Joshua Kimmich on

…the beginning of World Cup season: Everyone wants to stay fit. I want to develop with Bayern and play as many games as I can. The World Cup is coming closer and so the focus must be on the qualifiers for the moment.

…competition for places: Competition for places is always high in the national team because it’s all the best players coming together. There were a few new faces at the Confed Cup and there are those who have already won the World Cup. Everyone benefits from the high quality in the squad.

…possible early qualification from the group: We want to win the next two games. It depends on us.