Jones: Yes. I also plan for the long-term. We have some young players who we are bringing into the team, even if they don’t quite make it into the final squad for the European Championships. I think it’s important to give these young players confidence that they can build on.
DFB.de: How do you interpret your task as head coach?
Jones: I am a team player and an open, communicative person. I see myself as the boss, the co-coordinator and the manager. I want to play a part in all areas but I also have faith in everyone that is part of the team, including the players. It’s important to me that we all work together and they give me feedback. I ask for feedback on my decisions and I am self-critical. I consider us to be a team even if I am making the final decisions. We are all responsible, not only when we’re successful, but also when we aren’t.
DFB.de: Where do you get your inspiration from?
Jones: From all different places. I have been in contact with my friends involved in men’s football for years. I think it’s important not to always separate men’s and women’s football. We can learn a lot from each other. For example, I was with Markus Sorg at the U19 European Championships and I learnt a lot from him. I have also been in contact with Hansi Flick for a long time. Being part of Silvia Neid’s coaching staff was intense, but I learnt a lot and decided what I wanted to do. It’s simple really: I am Steffi Jones and I want my team to look like a Steffi Jones team.
Steffi Jones is getting ready for her first two home games in charge of the Germany women’s first team. They will face Austria in Regensburg this Saturday at 14:15 CEST, before facing Holland in Aalen on Tuesday at 16:10 CEST. Jones spoke to DFB.de about her philosophy, her goals and the excitement building for her first games in front of a home crowd.
DFB.de: Steffi Jones, how important are these first two home fixtures for you as head coach?
Steffi Jones: I am really excited. My first game in charge of the national team was already something special. It was the first time the coaching staff were in charge and of course we wanted to beat both Russia and Hungary. Winning these two matches has made everything a lot easier. However, it really will be something special to take charge of the team in front of a home crowd.
DFB.de: How are you approaching the matches?
Jones: We always want to win. Every match is important for our preparation for the European Championships in Holland in 2017. We want to try out some new tactics, be courageous and confident. Of course it’s going to take some time to find ourselves as a team, especially after key players Annike Krahn, Saskia Bartusiak and Melanie Behriger have left the squad. But it’s fine if we make some mistakes as we will learn from them.
DFB.de: What is your philosophy as head coach?
Jones: I prefer to play in an attacking formation. We played in a 4-4-2 diamond formation against Russia and it worked really well in the first half, but we lost a bit of structure in the second half. But on the whole, I was pleased. We changed the formation a lot in the match against Hungary, but we still won the match in the end. My philosophy is to mix up the formation, not to be predictable and put on a confident performance.
DFB.de: You brought in three new players, Hasret Kayikci, Linda Dallmann and Jacqueline Klasen on your debut. Is giving young players a chance part of your philosophy too?
Jones: Yes. I also plan for the long-term. We have some young players who we are bringing into the team, even if they don’t quite make it into the final squad for the European Championships. I think it’s important to give these young players confidence that they can build on.
DFB.de: How do you interpret your task as head coach?
Jones: I am a team player and an open, communicative person. I see myself as the boss, the co-coordinator and the manager. I want to play a part in all areas but I also have faith in everyone that is part of the team, including the players. It’s important to me that we all work together and they give me feedback. I ask for feedback on my decisions and I am self-critical. I consider us to be a team even if I am making the final decisions. We are all responsible, not only when we’re successful, but also when we aren’t.
DFB.de: Where do you get your inspiration from?
Jones: From all different places. I have been in contact with my friends involved in men’s football for years. I think it’s important not to always separate men’s and women’s football. We can learn a lot from each other. For example, I was with Markus Sorg at the U19 European Championships and I learnt a lot from him. I have also been in contact with Hansi Flick for a long time. Being part of Silvia Neid’s coaching staff was intense, but I learnt a lot and decided what I wanted to do. It’s simple really: I am Steffi Jones and I want my team to look like a Steffi Jones team.
