"This is unacceptable": Hoeneß steps up criticism of Nagelsmann

"This is unacceptable": Hoeneß steps up criticism of Nagelsmann

With the tournament in North America edging ever closer, the honorary president of FC Bayern Munich remains far from convinced by the current state of the German national side.

Speaking in an interview with the FAZ, Hoeneß took aim at Nagelsmann’s approach and in particular the absence of a settled starting XI. “If Germany manages to become a cohesive team even though the coach hasn’t managed to field the same starting eleven twice in a row – then we have a chance,” Hoeneß explained.

The 74-year-old had already voiced similar concerns in a recent interview with DAZN, where he argued that Nagelsmann rotates too frequently and is still yet to establish a clear system or preferred lineup.

Now, however, Hoeneß has sharpened his criticism even further. “I can’t say that at all, because the German team has never played with the same lineup twice in a row,” he said when discussing Germany’s World Cup prospects.

Hoeneß also questioned the uncertainty surrounding several major positions within the squad.

“Who is our center forward? Who plays goalkeeper? Who is the right-back, who is the left-back?” he asked publicly before warning: “If things continue like this, we will end up sending a team onto the pitch for the first World Cup match that has never played together before. And that’s unacceptable.”

Later in the interview, Hoeneß appeared to draw an indirect comparison between Nagelsmann and Vincent Kompany, praising the work currently being done at Bayern Munich.

“The situation is the same as with us. Before the season, everyone said: The squad is too small, the squad isn’t good enough,” explained the long-time Bayern chief.

In Hoeneß’s view, Kompany succeeded in doing exactly what Germany are currently lacking. “But then the coach improved all the players, and above all, he forged them into a team.”

The Bayern honorary president then delivered what many will interpret as a direct swipe at Nagelsmann’s philosophy. “But our national coach believes he’ll win the game. No, the team will win the game,” the 74-year-old declared.

With those remarks, Hoeneß underlined his belief that success at international level is built less on experimentation and tactical reshuffling, and more on creating a settled, united team capable of functioning together on the pitch.