Matthäus in the Merkur interview: Bayern star fascinates him – "I trust him to have a great career"

Created: 06/10/2022, 12:40 p.m

By: Manuel Bonke

Lothar Matthäus is convinced of Jamal Musiala.

© Jan Huebner / Imago

Lothar Matthäus speaks in a big interview about the DFB, the 2022 World Cup - and Bayern's shooting star Jamal Musiala.

Munich – Jamal Musiala (19) is enthusiastic about the national team – as is Lothar Matthäus (61) and his son Milan.

In an interview with our newspaper, the record national player talks about FC Bayern's "top talent".

In the Matthäus household, everyone seems to be a big fan of Jamal Musiala.

Her son Milan watched the 1-1 draw against England in Musiala dress.

Matthäus:

Ever since Milan came to Munich and Jamal Musiala played his way into the limelight, he's been a fan of his.

My son knows about football, I would say (laughs).

And what does papa say to Musiala?

Matthäus:

He is a top talent and delivers top performances - whether with FC Bayern or the national team.

Despite his young age, he has qualities that are otherwise not found in the national team: always with enthusiasm and a good attitude.

He's someone who takes risks in one-on-ones.

Everything always looks very light and smooth with him.

He has enormous potential, which is why I think he's capable of a great career.

Matthäus-Interview: According to the performance principle, Musiala should get a regular place under Flick

Musiala is not the undisputed regular player either in Munich or with the national team.

Matthäus:

He generally needs more playing time - especially on a weekly basis at Bayern Munich.

I think Hansi Flick trusts him a little more than Julian Nagelsmann.

Of course, Musiala has enormous competition – in every position.

He benefited from Leon Goretzka's protracted injury and was able to get to know a new position as a six.

I think he's a tremendous weapon against defensively strong teams there, as well as in the eighth position.

In what way?

Matthäus:

He brings the playful elements onto the pitch, unlike Goretzka.

He goes into the penalty area more with his strength and physicality and also doesn't play the passes that Musiala shakes out of his ankle.

Musiala is a direct competitor for every German international who plays for FC Bayern because he is so versatile.

I hope that his flexibility doesn't become a disadvantage for him.

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A starting XI place at the World Cup on the wing seems realistic given the fluctuating performances of Leroy Sané and Serge Gnabry.

Matthäus:

I always hear that it is based on the performance principle.

And if Musiala is stronger than a player who has a few more years under his belt, then you have to bring him in - no matter what position.

Of all the German national players, he was the most convincing against the “big ones”.

Lothar Matthäus thinks highly of Bayern's young talent Jamal Musiala.

© Sven Hoppe/dpa

Matthäus interview: Musiala has the potential to become a world footballer

What do you think of the suggestion: use Musiala on the ten and Thomas Müller up front as a false nine?

Matthäus:

Then you have Kai Havertz out and you have to find a place for him again.

That's the beauty of Hansi Flick.

It's just a gimmick now and Hansi is happy that he has so many good players and opportunities.

This allows him to react to a player's phases of weakness or tiredness and also to tactical orientations.

As things stand now and with my experience as a player, coach and football expert, Musiala should play from the start in Hungary if the principle of performance is anything to go by.

How far along were you as a player at 19?

Matthäus:

In general, the young players are all better than we used to be.

With their possibilities nowadays in the youth sector and in the academies: training design, load control and whatever else there is.

We didn't have that before.

It was said: get out, run, win and then drink a beer.

I can't say that I had the same talent as Musiala.

I had the will and the ambition, but so does Musiala.

But he practically hovers over the square.

Do you think Musiala is capable of becoming a world footballer one day?

Matthew:

I trust him to keep his feet on the ground for the time being.

I have the feeling with him: He is not someone who takes off.

And then we'll see.

It's a long way.

When I was 19, I didn't even think about becoming a world footballer one day.

When I was 30, that was it for me.

And Musiala still has a little time.

He still has to manage the intermediate steps.

Matthäus-Interview: Germany lacks a classic centre-forward

What do you expect for a game against Hungary?

Matthäus:

Germany are the clear favorites against Hungary when you look at the market values ​​of the players and their current clubs.

With all due respect to the Hungarians, you have to have that much self-confidence.

That's why Germany should win the game.

England thought so too and lost 1-0.

As a result, Germany has been warned and will not underestimate the enemy, as the English may have done.

The possibilities and the quality that the DFB team has should then prevail in Budapest.

The last game against Hungary was about a year ago.

At that time, the national coach was still called Joachim Löw.

How do you rate the development of the team under Hansi Flick?

Matthäus:

The game against England was a step up compared to the performance in Italy.

But I'll be fair: there's still a long way to go before the World Cup in Qatar, so I'm being careful and not saying: Wow, that's it!

There is still room for improvement in the gate closure.

Matthew:

Yes, we have to score the goals!

Maybe we really lack the clear centre-forward that we always had in the past.

I do think that a player like that would do the team good.

As you can see, most teams that win titles have a real number nine that guarantees certain goals – and we haven't had that for a long time.

Hansi Flick also thinks highly of Jamal Musiala.

The 19-year-old could have a regular place in the DFB squad for the World Cup in Qatar.

© Christian Charisius/dpa

Matthäus interview: Sky expert sees Schlotterbeck ahead of Süle

What can Hansi Flick do about it?

Matthäus:

As a club coach he could sign a striker from abroad, but as a national coach his hands are tied.

And I don't necessarily see anyone in Germany at the moment who can guarantee these goals in this position.

Can England goalscorer Jonas Hofmann become Hansi Flick's secret weapon?

Matthäus:

He definitely has a huge character and is 100 percent committed.

That's an advantage in order to get playing time.

He is versatile on the right flank and is now neither a winger nor a right-back.

He does the job given to him well.

Jonas isn't tied down the right flank, he's more at home in the inside right position, which is where he scored the goal against England.

What role do you think Nico Schlotterbeck can play?

Matthäus:

Through my work as a Sky expert, I was lucky enough to see him three games in a row.

For me he was always the best man on the pitch.

Of course he sometimes makes a bad pass, but because he consciously takes a certain risk and doesn't always just play across or the boring pass.

Then one or the other action doesn't work, that also happened in the last two international matches.

He still has to turn that off, he will do that with increasing experience.

On the other hand, he is currently more than just a competitor for Antonio Rüdiger or Niklas Süle in the central defender position.

Although I currently see Süle more at risk than Rüdiger.

In my opinion, he has become firmly established in the national team in the last twelve months.

Interview: Manuel Bonke