Germany captain Michael Ballack has confirmed that he was “by and large” in agreement with his coach Jurgen Klinsmann on tactics.
Ballack said Germany needed to bolster their defence in their final World Cup warm-up match on Friday against Colombia.
“We talk a lot and he knows my views,” Ballack said when quizzed about remarks he made concerning Klinsmann’s ongoing experimentation with personnel and team formation.
“We don’t need to talk every day. He’s the trainer and sets up the system that he wants us to play.
“By and large we’re in agreement. On some points we have different views. If everyone expressed their opinions aloud all the time we’d have chaos.”
Klinsmann came under renewed attack in Germany after they were held by Japan in Tuesday’s friendly international.
“We saw against Japan that we have not yet improved the weaknesses we’ve had in defence in the last two years under Juergen Klinsmann,” Ballack said.
“That’s the risk of this philosophy but we cannot afford to play at all-out risk.”
Calling for an end to the changes made by Klinsmann in recent matches, Ballack denied that he was undermining the coach.
“It depends on what you understand by the word ‘test’,” Ballack said.
“If a player or two is being tested, that’s okay. But the basic foundation has to be set up. The framework of the team to play on June 9 has to be out there.”
Ballack said that from now on the onus should be on creating an established defence.
“It would be nice not to give away any goals because that would give us all added confidence,” Ballack said. “We’ve got enough players who can score goals. Discipline is the key.”
At least year’s Confederations Cup Germany beat Australia 4-3, before overcoming Tunisia 3-0.
“The Tunisia match might not have been as attractive to watch but we dominated them throughout,” Ballack said.
“That’s what I’d envision us doing against Colombia. Matches like that may not be fun to watch but they give the team confidence and that’s what we want to see.”
