Jürgen Klinsmann has had a rotten start as new Bayern Munich coach. Those of you familiar with my opinion of the man during my time in Germany as GOAL.com Bundesliga correspondent won’t be surprised that I’m not. Here’s an article I wrote for my Behind The Wall column on June 22, 2005 when Klinsmann was the revolutionary Bundestrainer preparing the German national team for the World Cup.
Nine goals, two wins, and a draw in three matches might seem an impressive return for Jürgen Klinsmann and his young German charges at this Confederations’ Cup. Brian O’ Driscoll sees much to be upbeat about but remains sceptical of the Bundestrainer’s methods in his latest editorial from Berlin.
Behind The Wall: Carry On Klinsmann
A win is a win. That pretty much summed up the public attitude of Germany coach Jürgen Klinsmann in the wake of last week’s inglorious defeat of Australia in Frankfurt. While those around him sought to question the vulnerability of his youthful defence, Klinsmann labelled his side „brilliant“ and talked-up his team’s less than impressive display.
This has been the motif of the Klinsmann reign. Everybody is praised, good performances become „great“ ones, and poor shows are treated as aberrations. As a player, the former Stuttgart, Inter, Monaco, Tottenham, and Bayern Munich man was a study in effervescence, a triumph of wilfulness over technical craft. As a coach, Klinsmann has taken his inherent characteristics and tried to sculpt a team in his own image. Sadly for him, and for Germany, the coach’s role relies more on inherent skill than on good-hearted bluster. Klinsmann, for all his optimism is running out of time and out of believers.
This is a man who spends his time in California, watches his players on television, and leaves assistant Jogi Löw to follow the fortunes of his chosen 33 at close quarters. This is also a man who believes fundamentally in American-style sports psychology and has gone so far as to replace Germany’s traditional green second strip with a bright red number because red is apparently more intimidating. Really, Jürgen, have you forgotten that yellow, the colour of cowardice, is worn by Brazil? This kind of thinking might impress the myopic, but for this observer the jury is well and truly out (and partying with Michael Jackson) on his performance to date.
His insistence on a 4-4-2 formation smacks of his admiration for the British style of play. Indeed, his time in England has fostered a huge respect for that country’s league championship, apparently leading to a misguided belief in Thomas Hitzlsperger and Jens Lehmann, mediocre Premiership performers at the best of times. Hitzlsperger has had the unenviable task of filling in at left-back during this Confederations’ Cup and has coped as admirably as a midfield player might be expected to. Klinsmann’s reluctance to play a full-back there suggests that the injured Philipp Lahm has absolutely no challengers should he return to fitness in time for the World Cup.
Klinsmann’s love of the English game has also seen him impose a 4-4-2 formation on players more accustomed to thee at the back sweeper systems. The youthful defensive pairing of Robert Huth and Per Mertesacker has looked vulnerable in this tournament for a number of reasons. Lack of experience, lack of familiarity with each other, and lack of comfort in Klinsmann’s chosen formation have all conspired to make two very promising young players look very ordinary indeed.
Two early wins in the tournament and seven goals in the process cosmetically masked the reality that modest Australia put the German defence to the sword, while the game Tunisians were a match for their hosts for 75 competitive minutes in Köln. Until then, Germany huffed and puffed and replicated their wretched Euro 2004 display against Latvia to perfection. Inviting chances were spurned, and the opposition looked just as likely to break the deadlock in the baking sun before Michael Ballack converted a penalty and eased home nerves.
Part of the reason for such ineptitude lies with the personnel employed by the coach. For reasons best known to himself, Klinsmann perseveres with the game but mediocre Gerald Asamoah when it is obvious to all that the Schalke man is nothing more than a willing runner. Put simply, Asamoah is not up to it at this level, and the fact that Klinsmann – who was – cannot see this is disconcerting.
In all honesty, only Lukas Podolski of the German forwards is worthy of the honour of representing his country and possibly, with time, extending the historic lineage of greatness established by Helmut Rahn, Uwe Seeler, Gerd Müller, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, and Rudi Völler to name but the most obvious. Yet, Klinsmann seems to admire something about Asamoah’s game. To this observer, it is the honest selflessness and enthusiasm that the Ghana-born forward brings to the squad that his coach most respects. Perhaps Klinsmann even sees himself in the burly striker. Nevertheless, despite his goal against Argentina, Asamoah possesses none of Klinsmann’s raw ability around the box.
On the brighter side, there are a number of plusses to be taken from the group games. Bastian Schweinsteiger has come through in recent matches to make a midfield position his own. His goal against Tunisia on Saturday was magnificent testimony to his talent. However, he must overcome a tendency to predictably cut inside every time he attacks on the flanks.
The man who helped set up that goal with a beautifully-weighted through-ball, Podolski, is now Germany’s number one striker, whatever the claims of the over-rated Kevin Kuranyi. The Schalke man could not have dreamed of the pass that Podolski executed so effortlessly, though now possesses an impressive statistical record in a German shirt. His game is relatively ineffective outside the box and he is living off the happy tendency of being in the right place at the right time. Nevertheless, when the goals dry up, he offers precious little else to the team.
For now it’s so far so good on the results front. But it’s not about results right now. It’s about performances. While Podolski and Schweinsteiger have shown that they will develop into formidable players, Klinsmann must get the fundamentals right to build upon their potential by this time next year. I, for one, have my doubts he can.
Brian A. O’Driscoll, June 22, 2005
