"Some clubs have had 15 coaches in ten years, each with completely different approaches and philosophies. But where is the consistency in player development? Do they have a unified playing philosophy, a unified vision? And is that more important than their position in the standings?” “Ultimately, in some positions, we’re not lacking in attitude or tactics, but simply in quality. Especially when it comes to creating creative solutions on the field, other nations are ahead of us on an individual level.” “You can’t beat the Spaniards with German virtues alone. That’s a misconception. The Argentines experienced this firsthand this summer, they were considered the gold standard when it comes to mentality.” "The only way to beat the Spanish right now is to have better possession than they do, so they have to chase the ball. That’s the key to being among the world’s best, and that’s the standard we have to measure ourselves against.” “They have a clear vision: What types of players do they want to see at the top, and what kind of football do we play? This systematic approach runs from the bottom all the way to the top. The Spaniards don’t deviate from their philosophy, even if they have a few bad years now and then. What do we stand for in Germany? The reflex is often that we no longer stand for our virtues. But that’s not true. We no longer stand for a clear playing philosophy.” “Promoting individuality is important if a player wants to make it to the top level of professional football. In fact, it’s crucial. There are many areas to focus on and many things we can do better in Germany. Because we’ve neglected this, we’ve fallen behind the world’s best.”   submitted by   /u/Sparky-moon [link]   [comments]