Kai Havertz, striker for Germany, Spain’s next rival in Group E of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, declared this Friday at Al Shamal that the 7-0 victory achieved by” Luis Enrique’s team in its debut against Costa Rica “is impressivebut we will not hide” in the game against La Roja next Sunday.
“7-0 is a difficult result, which is impressive; you have to respect the Spanish team, this is clear; but we will not hide against Spain. We know the quality we havewe know what we have to do and we want to show it on Sunday,” Havertz said at the press conference held in Al Shamal, a town located approximately 120 kilometers north of Doha where the German team has its headquarters ., who surprised Japan in their first match, beating them 2-1.
About criticism against other colleagues not specified by name, but used publiclyof Ilkay Gündogan and goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer, Havertz, 23, played them.
“I think they are constructive criticism, even though there are always things taken out of context. People go to the locker room sad and angry after losing a game like this. What Manu said or what Ilkay said that there are people who don’t want to have the ball or don’t offer themselves, I think it’s a good criticism for the team. Whether it’s public or not, you don’t have to give it that much importance either,” he said.
“No one was angry with anyone. We have had several internal meetings, we have discussed things. And we know what we did wrong. Now we have to go forward and give one hundred percent in Sunday’s game against Spain,” said the English Chelsea striker this Friday in Al Shamal.
Germany have won just two of their last nine games in a major official tournament, so the German striker was asked if the ‘Mannschaft’ was no longer a ‘tournament team’. “The statistics do not speak in favor, but we are in a phase of change, with a new coach and with other young players coming in recently”, replied Havertz.
“These last few days I haven’t been in a particularly good mood, I’m angry. But once you digest things, you start looking forward to Sunday’s game. Criticism I think will advance the team. In training we have to push and recover the good feelings,” he said.
“I understand that with many fans, or from the press, the negativity comes; they shoot us hard. But mentally I’m not worried. I’m worried about ‘zero point zero’. I don’t care about what happened in the past. On Sunday we have a great meeting. For whom negative thoughts are useless,” Havertz said this Friday at his meeting place in Qatar. “You have to look forward,” he added.
Asked if Hansi Flick’s kind character was like that; or if it has changed, Havertz said: “We’ve known these things since school. The last thing that can be blamed on the coach is that he doesn’t talk to us.”
“After the meeting on Thursday, we all know what we have to do. I don’t think (Flick) is very good. I don’t need a coach to yell at me. It is enough for me to tell me things clearly,” said Havertz, who gave his opinion about his position on the pitch and denied that he is now thinking “of being the top scorer of the tournament or things like like this.”
“I can play ‘9’, I can play ’10’, I can play on the right and I can play on the left. My favorite is playing as ‘9’; but I also know that if you are a striker you have to score goals. And I, against Japan, did not mark them”, admitted the attacker of Germany and Chelsea.
“What is clear to me is that if I play, and if I play in that position, on Sunday, I will give it my all.one hundred percent of myself,” Havertz said this Friday at Al Shamal.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
