Bierhoff: “TSG impress me”

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17 May 2024, 14:14 yayınlandı

Oliver Bierhoff on…

…a European Championship without him: “I don’t know yet how it will feel. Except for 2004, I’ve actively experienced all the tournaments since 1996. I’ll definitely be live at the stadium for all of the national team’s matches; I want to soak up the atmosphere and the mood. I already reflect on my time with the national team with nostalgia and love, because there aren’t many better things you can do.”

…the World Cup accommodation at Campo Bahia: “Before the start of the World Cup, I already had some doubts whether everything would be finished in time. It all had to be completely rebuilt. In the end, everything worked out and was just right. I kept my worries to myself in the meantime; I didn’t tell Jogi about them. I only informed Manuel Neuer that everything might not be ready for the beginning of the tournament. He just told me not to worry: If necessary, we’ll sleep under the stars.”

…the special elements that culminated in winning the title in 2014: “We put in a great deal of thought. That extended to the flight and travel times after the matches. Since we always had to travel a short distance by ferry to Campo Bahia, we arrived very early in the morning. Then we stood on the ferry under a wonderfully clear sky. That was magical.”

…the current national team and Julian Nagelsmann: “Things have gotten better in the last two games. I had the feeling that there was more togetherness. That wasn’t the case beforehand. Julian is a class coach, no question. A great deal is always possible at a home EURO. I don’t see many teams that are better.”

…his departure from the DFB: “At the end, it was to be expected and not surprising. Looking back, things had already been tough since 2018. What bothered me was the lack of internal support. Because as long as you stick together internally, you can deal with criticism in a reasonable manner. This solidarity was unique with Jogi and the entire coaching staff but it was no longer like that afterwards.”

…current offers: “There’s always something, offers from clubs and businesses. I’m really enjoying my current role at the Finvia Family Office. I couldn’t imagine working as a pundit at the European Championships at the moment, I still need more distance.”

…the power of football in the current climate: “I am convinced that the atmosphere will be good. Perhaps similar to 2006, but the overall geopolitical situation is, of course, completely different to back then. So I can’t envisage that the European Championship will completely change everything and bring about a lasting turnaround.”

…the DFB Campus: “I still believe in the idea we had at the time. But you also need to utilise this campus and fill it with contents. I spend so much time travelling in sports and there is an incredible amount of knowledge transfers taking place, in academies around the world for example. But they think bigger than we do in Germany. It really hurts that we didn’t manage to get it right with the campus.”

…TSG Hoffenheim: “I’m always happy to be here. There are a lot of really good people working here who I’ve already known for a long time. It was also particularly nice to be able to talk to Dietmar Hopp at length. What he has achieved here at TSG as well as throughout the entire region is difficult to put into words. From a distance, not everything has gone perfectly this season on a sporting level, but there is still a chance of getting into Europe. Away from the sporting side of things, TSG impress me. The congress on the topic of pressure is a perfect example. The people in charge are working diligently on incredibly exciting projects that serve as an example.”