Kai Havertz is struggling to make an impact with Germany as well as with Chelsea, and after Hansi Flick’s team’s defeat to Japan on Tuesday, the knives were out for the forward, as well as for the whole team.
Some sources in Germany were claiming that Flick was too matey and too relaxed with his group, and that a stricter and more forceful coach would get the better out of them – especially out of players like Havertz, who can drift out of games.
The Chelsea man – as you’d expect – didn’t agree. In fact he pointed out that objective feedback was what he needed from coaches, not shouting and screaming.
“We all remember from school with a teacher,” Havertz is quoted as saying by SportWitness.
“The last thing you can accuse the coach of is not talking to us clearly and not wanting to wake us up.
“I think that, especially after the meeting, everyone now knows what’s going on. And to say that he is too nice, completely wrong.
“Being nice is a nice thing, but you also need the clarity. I’m not the type who has to be shouted at by the coach, and objective feedback from a coach is enough for me.
“And if it’s clear, I know what’s going on. And that’s the most important thing and that’s what everyone took away from the meeting.”
It sounds the meeting will have been pretty forthright, but without any china throwing.
They’re up against it now though – they face Spain on Sunday night in the most interesting game of the group stage as a whole. If they lose that one, it will be interesting to see whether Flick still manages to keep his temper.
