After Germany's 1-2 defeat against Spain, a regrettable stop in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Europa League, head coach Nagelsmann was interviewed with tears in his eyes. He looked back fondly on the team's experience over the past few weeks and expressed his regret over the result and his outlook for the future.
Nagelsmann began by expressing how difficult it was for him to control his emotions, admitting that it was hard to describe how moved he was to look back on this special time. "I'm trying to control the tears. When the players look back on the last few weeks, it's very emotional. It's the end of a special time." His words revealed a deep sense of sadness for the team and how much he cherished the journey.
Speaking about the match itself, Nagelsmann recognized his team's performance. "We played well and reacted quickly. We were closer to the winning goal than the Spanish." He believes that despite not being able to win in the end, Germany's performance in the match was something to be proud of. At the same time, he expressed his pain and regret over the outcome of the match. "It's painful because it will take us two years to have a chance to do better." He lamented.
In addition, Nagelsmann emphasized the importance of the tournament for German soccer. "We resonated well with the people in the country and got those who hadn't watched the game in recent years to sit down in front of the TV again. That's something we can take away with us." He believes that the tournament has not only refocused fans on German soccer, but has also inspired more people to love and care about the game.
As for future plans, Nagelsmann said he will sit down with the team on Saturday for an in-depth discussion. "Honestly, I don't know what the exact plan is. I didn't anticipate it." He was candid about his uncertainty about the future. But he also emphasized his and his coaching team's responsibility: "The task for me and my coaching team now is to put together a squad for the UEFA Europa League." He said he will continue to work hard to contribute to the future of German soccer.
