Julian Nagelsmann explains decision not to select Angelo Stiller for DFB squad

Nagelsmann was asked about Angelo Stiller's absence and addressed the VfB Stuttgart midfielder directly: "He’s an outstanding footballer with immense potential and consistently good performances, but he’s up against Pavlo, whom I simply see as being a notch above," the national team coach said.

"Especially when it comes to certain tactical aspects. I don’t see Angelo in the starting eleven, and so we simply decided to fill the squad places behind him differently." Perhaps because he is worried that Stiller might poison the atmosphere if he doesn’t play?

Nagelsmann seemed to anticipate that such speculation would arise, which is why he immediately added that this should not be taken as a criticism of Stiller. Nor should people read "all sorts of things" into his words, and he emphasised that this was "a decision in favour of another player who is in the squad for that reason." The question remains why Nagelsmann did not simply stick to the sporting rationale.

Germany, Stuttgart

julian nagelsmann, angelo stiller, dfb squad, vfb stuttgart, pavlo, midfielder, tactics, starting eleven, team atmosphere, selection decision