German football legend Hamann was interviewed after attending a meeting between the DFB's refereeing department and TV experts. He discussed refereeing standards and VAR intervention principles for the new Bundesliga season. He also commented on Klopp's first 44-player squad list after taking over the German national team, Wirtz's situation at Liverpool, competition for the goalkeeper position in the national team, and the buzz surrounding Olise. This is the first part of the interview.

On the Meeting Between the DFB's Refereeing Department and TV Experts

Yes, I'm very pleased. I hope the referees feel the same way. The refereeing officials were also present today. I think this exchange was planned for quite some time, with the aim of allowing everyone to share perspectives and clarify certain questions.

After the World Cup, new regulations were put in place regarding corners, throw-ins, yellow cards, and VAR intervention in situations involving two yellow cards resulting in a red. These were also discussion topics addressed at today's meeting. They explained them to us again using four or five concrete examples. Then we discussed how each of us perceived these issues, so it was a very good exchange.

Ultimately, everyone has to work together. Of course, I will still criticize them if certain situations aren't refereed to the appropriate standard, and sometimes I'll criticize specific referees. However, I already told Knut Kircher on air that the refereeing in the first matchdays of this Bundesliga season couldn't have been better. They let the game flow. So I'd say this meeting was a great success.

But Hamann wouldn't suddenly become a toothless tiger on Saturday night just because he attended such a meeting, would he?

Of course not. I don't want referees to make mistakes either. There will always be a certain degree of subjectivity in decisions, but as I said, so far this season they've done their best to let the game flow. Perhaps the refereeing standards from the World Cup still have some influence, as during the World Cup, referees also chose to let play continue in many situations. I hope they continue to referee this way in the future. This will result in fewer disputes, and we can focus more on football and players, and less on referees. I think everyone would be happy with that.

What Were the Biggest Points of Disagreement Between the Two Sides? Was It the Video Assistant Referee? What Was the Most Hotly Debated Topic?

I think it was the number of interventions and the duration of each intervention. There have been changes in that regard now. The time needed for the video assistant referee to review a situation and intervene has been reduced from approximately 92 seconds to approximately 60 seconds, a reduction of about half a minute.

As for the number of interventions, that has always been my biggest concern. I said that if we want the video assistant referee to really work and be accepted without ruining the game – "ruining" sounds strong, but that's what it is – then the number of interventions must be reduced to an absolute minimum. Only then can this technology continue to function effectively and be fair for all parties involved.

Since Knut Kircher took office, they've been pushing in this direction. They also mentioned a statistic today that was new to me: during the same period last season, there were 10 interventions, whereas during the same period this season, there have been only 4, less than half. I hope this trend continues.

The Bundesliga has started, and now everyone is also looking forward to the national team matches and Jürgen Klopp's debut as national coach. How excited are you? What are your expectations regarding the so-called "Klopp effect"?

We'll have to wait and see. The major tournament in two years is, of course, decisive. We need to make sure we find the right people and integrate them into the team. There are currently 44 players. Perhaps some players will emerge who might not have had such an opportunity under a different coach or team setup.

Results are one thing, and of course we want good results. But when I look at this team, what I want to see is a real unit. Whether it's the 11 players on the pitch or the 16 players who come on consecutively, they need to support each other and help one another. When a teammate makes a mistake, the others can sometimes cover for them. I haven't felt that from this team over the last two years. That's what I'm looking forward to and what I hope to see.

Of course, there will certainly be one or two players who stand out with their performances, so I'm very excited. The most important thing is to motivate everyone. I think people haven't been as enthusiastic about Germany's matches for quite some time, which is certainly a positive thing.

That aligns perfectly with the "overall project" Klopp is building. He's sent emails and communications to former international players, and he also wants the media to help. What do you think of his emphasis on communication and his vision of this as a national effort?

I think that's excellent. This can only succeed if everyone works together. We know that if you enter a major tournament with a negative atmosphere at home – and I'm not talking about the country's political or other atmosphere, but the sporting atmosphere, as was the case this year – things become very difficult.

You need everyone's support. If the entire nation is behind the team, I think the team has a chance of achieving something great. So I really like what he's doing right now.

Another excellent point is that he goes to the clubs, spends time watching the players train, talks to the players, has a coffee, and chats for 20 minutes or half an hour. This clearly shows that he values the players.

He understands this very well, and I think that's probably why he's been so successful over the last 15 to 20 years. If players aren't willing to sacrifice themselves for you, it's difficult to achieve the results you want. I believe he's managed this at every club he's been at before. I sincerely hope he can lead our national team to similar success.

Now, which players do you think will perform better than their recent club form suggests? Which players must particularly prove themselves in these international matches?

Basically, everyone needs to. Looking back at the World Cup, one could perhaps reluctantly mention Brandt and Nmecha. Besides that, it's very difficult for me to find another player who didn't perform below their usual level at that tournament.

But this can only succeed if everyone works together, only as a team, because no one can do everything alone on the pitch. So I think Klopp will also strengthen team spirit and team cohesion. Of course, there are also young players this time, and we'll have to see what happens next.

The player I'm focusing on most is Wirtz. Now, even in England, they've realized that what's happening between Liverpool and Wirtz looks like a huge misunderstanding. Therefore, it will be very interesting to see how he performs for the national team. If his situation at Liverpool continues like this, I think the club will choose to cut their losses sooner or later.

Musiala, after that difficult period, has now scored a few goals, so we can see how he performs now. I also want to mention Waldschmidt, who couldn't establish himself in England and is now struggling at Juventus. There are indeed many players facing their own problems. Of course, I hope the national team can offer them a change of scenery and perhaps help them rediscover their form.

Related reading:

Hamann: Wirtz Has Been Terrible These Last 15 Months, No One Could Have Predicted It.

Traduit par IA.

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