German coach seeks improvement against โ€˜extraordinaryโ€™ English

You are currently viewing German coach seeks improvement against โ€˜extraordinaryโ€™ English

Germany coach Hansi Flick said on Monday that his team would need to improve against Englandโ€™s โ€œextraordinary playersโ€ in a Nations League clash in Munich on Tuesday.

Flick praised the English Premier League at his pre-match news conference, saying โ€œthe quality is very highโ€.

โ€œThey have six or seven clubs of almost equal level,โ€ said Flick, a former Bayern Munich coach.

Flick said German players who move to the Premier League โ€œtake a step upโ€.

Flickโ€™s squad contains four players who played for English clubs last season, including three under German coach Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea.

Flick singled out Kai Havertz โ€œwho grew up under the influence of Thomas Tuchelโ€.

Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, who scored twice on the final day of the Premier League season to seal the title for Manchester City, praised Englandโ€™s strength in depth.

โ€œThey could form three national teams,โ€ he said.

Flick said he was disappointed with a 1-1 draw with Italy in Bologna on Saturday, on the same evening that England lost their goup opener 1-0 in Hungary.

โ€œIt is obvious that we must do betterโ€ against England, said Flick.

โ€œThey have extraordinary players and their game is very physical. [Harry] Kane is a world-class striker, he has a huge quality,โ€ Flick said.

โ€œIt will be a big game for us and it will be important to implement our plan well,โ€ said Flick, still undefeated after 10 games as Germany coach.

Gundogan, who has been at City since 2016, insisted the historic rivalry between England and Germany was โ€œno longer an issueโ€.

โ€œThe respect is there, and in the end it is about sport,โ€ he said.

โ€œWe have had several German players who succeeded in England, and it has become very friendly, even if sometimes we banter a little.โ€