Nagelsmann defends Sané, guarantees him starting spot against Ivory Coast

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has guaranteed Leroy Sané a starting position in the national team's second World Cup match against Ivory Coast. Nagelsmann also sharply criticized the public's handling of the offensive player, even after the team's 7-1 victory in the World Cup opener against Curaçao.

“

I don't know why I shouldn't let him play. I'm not someone who is driven by outside opinions. We have an opinion within the coaching team, an opinion within the team, and we've seen things on the field that were very good.

"I don't know why I shouldn't let him play. I'm not someone who is driven by outside opinions. We have an opinion within the coaching team, an opinion within the team, and we've seen things on the field that were very good," Nagelsmann said before the match in Toronto. The national coach described the criticism of Sané as a "psychological phenomenon." He explained that once a player is put in a certain box and characterized, anything that remotely fits that characterization is judged much more harshly.

“

Once you have a person in a certain box and characterize them, everything you see that even remotely fits that direction is judged many times worse.

Nagelsmann assured that Sané is not bothered by the criticism and that it affects him more as a coach. "I can assure you, it doesn't bother him. It bothers me more because I don't like it when things are written about my players like that," he said. Sané arrived in Toronto with the team, gave autographs, and is set to play his 78th international match against Ivory Coast. Despite his international experience, he has yet to score in 13 World Cup and European Championship tournament games.

“

I can assure you, it doesn't bother him. It bothers me more because I don't like it when things are written about my players like that.

Nagelsmann sees no obvious reason to change the starting lineup from the Curaçao match. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will make his 21st World Cup appearance, becoming the sole record holder for World Cup games played by a goalkeeper. A victory against the physically strong Ivorian team could secure Germany's early advancement to the knockout stage of the tournament. "Winning the game would be very important," Nagelsmann stated.

“

Winning the game would be very important.