‘I am still the right man for the job’- Under fire Germany coach claims after 4-1 battering by Japan

FOOTBALL ‘I am still the right man for the job’- Under fire Germany coach claims after 4-1 battering by Japan

Mark Kinyanjui 11:23 - 10.09.2023

Flick has been under heavy scrutiny since Germany’s disappointing exit at the group stages of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Under fire, Germany head coach Hansi Flick insists he is still the right man for the job after his side was battered 4-1 at home by Japan in an international friendly match played on Saturday.

Japan beat Germany 2-1 at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, which made people raise eyebrows over Hansi Flick’s capability to lead the team, but a 4-1 drubbing to the same opponents has increased the pressure on him.

Junya Ito opened the scoring for Japan after 11 minutes, but Bayern Munich forward Leroy Sane struck back for the hosts.

Ayase Ueda tucked in from close range to restore Japan's advantage midway through the first half at Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg.

Takuma Asano and Ao Tanaka then put the game to bed in the closing moments.

A chorus of boos and "Hansi out" chants rang around the Volkswagen Arena as Flick walked down the tunnel at full time, with the former Bayern Munich boss seemingly hanging onto his job by a thread.

Speaking to the media after the match, the 2020 treble-winning manager insisted that the side was doing well and that he was still the right man for the job.

"We and the coaching staff are trying everything. I think we are doing well and I am the right coach," Flick told reporters after the match.

Commenting on the defeat to Japan, Flick said: "We are really disappointed. You have to admit that Japan is a good team. We don't have the tools right now to beat a defence like that.

"The team tried again and again, then there were individual mistakes, which Japan then exploited and deserved such a big win.

"We were not in a position to beat a team like that. They have the basics. We in German football have to wake up. It's clear that the disappointment is huge. We're disappointed too.

"We have different positions where we need to improve. It doesn't help to point fingers now. We've really been hit over the head. Now we have to shake ourselves up and do better against France."

Flick has been under heavy scrutiny since Germany’s disappointing exit at the group stages of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp tipped to take over the role sooner or later.

Germany - who host Euro 2024 - take on 2022 World Cup finalists France in a friendly at Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday.