“It’s not too late to criticize after the Asian Cup. We need more support now.”
That’s what Jürgen Klinsmann told reporters as he returned home via Incheon International Airport on Thursday after changing his original schedule.
Klinsmann, who earned his first win in six games in charge against Saudi Arabia on Nov. 13, had planned to stay in Europe to watch Kim Min-jae’s Bayern Munich (GER) match before returning to Korea, but he changed his schedule as negative publicity surrounding his stay in Korea spread.
“When asked by reporters why he changed his schedule, he laughed and said, “I heard that a lot of people were waiting for me,” and added, “When I heard that ‘coaches usually come home with their players when they return from overseas tours,’ I thought twice about it.” It’s a move that could be interpreted as conscious of negative public opinion.
“Even if there is a positive atmosphere internally, it is bound to be shaken if negative public opinion is created externally,” he said, adding, “I think it is not too late to criticize when the results come out.” He also asked fans to support the team’s preparation for the Asian Cup next January and to criticize after the results come out.
Although Klinsmann is aware of the negative public opinion, he hasn’t gotten out of the hole.
The current outpouring of discontent and growing distrust towards Klinsmann is not only due to his late victory and disappointing tactics, but also to his unconvincing foreign tour. It’s his behavior that raises questions about whether or not he’s prioritizing his job as head coach of the South Korean national soccer team.
In contrast to his pledge to “stay in Korea and check on the players” when concerns arose when he was appointed, he has spent a lot of time abroad. In his six-month tenure, he spent less than 70 days in Korea. He left South Korea to “work remotely” from his home in the United States and attended UEFA events while skipping the press conference announcing the national team roster. In an interview with ESPN, he gave his assessment of Lionel Messi and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, and predicted the outcome of the EPL Tottenham-Manchester United match.
There was some controversy during the A-match over whether he would attend the Legends Match, given the poor performance and results. After the game against Wales, he approached Aaron Ramsey and asked for his jersey. I couldn’t help but laugh at the idea of a national team manager asking an opposing player for a jersey in the midst of a bad publicity stunt.
It’s even harder to understand when you’re asking fans to support you while you’re making incomprehensible moves. Even Son Heung-min said of Klinsmann’s decision, “I think the fans might have a reaction like that.” 토토사이트
If your outside activities are more important to you than your job as a national team coach, it’s time to give up the job and move on. If the national team is your top priority, then you need to show that you’re doing something that everyone can appreciate before they say “support over criticize.”
The biggest risk for Klinsmann is his behavior. If Klinsmann has his priorities straight, he can prevent the kind of criticism that could shake the team he’s worried about. If you want fans to support you, you have to make them understand. If the negativity is so damaging and dangerous to the team, Klinsmann needs to change.
We”re not asking for a revolutionary change. Everyone has done that, including his predecessor, Paulo Bento, who led the team to the round of 16 at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.