Matthäus highlights Nagelsmann's mistakes during Germany tenure

Germany great Lothar Matthäus sharply criticized former national team coach Julian Nagelsmann and highlighted the mistakes he made along the way.

>In a column for the Bild newspaper published on Saturday, the 1990 World Cup champion said that the entire project was a "resounding failure" and that the team had "no leadership on the field, no quality of play, no solid defence, and no teamwork. It was nothing but chaos."

>Nagelsmann made "too many mistakes" with the line-up, with the tactics, "and even with the squad selection for this World Cup. He had no plan B, he stubbornly stuck to his approach.

>"He apparently ignored well-meaning advice from outside the team (which is understandable and acceptable), but unfortunately also from within. And his coaching staff consisted only of yes-men who never challenged him."

>Matthäus sees a particular issue with Nagelsmann's communication style.

>"Preferring messages on WhatsApp to face-to-face conversations? That's actually unthinkable for a leader," he criticized.

>Nagelsmann resigned after the elimination from the World Cup in a shocking 4-3 defeat on penalties to Paraguay in the round of 32. Former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp is expected to take the job.

>"With Klopp as national team coach, a new wind would blow through German football," Matthäus said.

>Matthäus also added that Nagelsmann is not the only one to blame for the World Cup debacle.

>"Those in charge at the DFB (German Football Federation) also made some mistakes. They stood by and watched for too long, always convinced that Nagelsmann is a good coach - which, from a purely technical standpoint, he certainly is - and hoping that things would work out," he wrote.

>"Yet the issues had been evident for quite some time. Despite that, his contract was extended through 2028. For no good reason!"