Schweinsteiger questions Musiala’s mentality

Bastian Schweinsteiger criticizes Jamal Musiala regarding his lack of reaction when opponents target him with fouls.

Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

Bastian Schweinsteiger and Oliver Kahn question the mentality of Germany’s national team in an interview with BILD. The midfielder was in particular not happy with Jamal Musiala’s lack of reaction after consistent fouls by Paraguayan players during the Round of 32 exit.

“I find it significant that Musiala’s best scene was only a scuffle against Paraguay. I missed something like that for a long time,” Schweinsteiger said about the FC Bayern star before sending a rhetorical question in Kahn’s direction.

“Olli (Kahn), let me ask you: Would you have shaken hands with your opponent after he fouled you for the fourth time?” said the 2014 World Cup winner. The legendary goalkeeper responded with a joke: “You didn’t mean the question now, did you?”

The former FC Bayern midfielder singled out Joshua Kimmich and Felix Nmecha as the only players to show leadership qualities at the tournament.

“This is already happening at the Bundesliga clubs. When I look at the German clubs, I wonder ‘Which German players actually bear permanent responsibility on the pitch there?’” said the 41-year-old as he believed it’s also a big issue in the league.

“Whether at Bayern or in the national team, I always knew the leaders on the pitch. If you have real leadership players, you won’t exit twice at a World Cup in the group stage and again in the Round of 32.”

Kahn agreed with Schweinsteiger’s suggestion that Germany need more leadership and mentality in the new era under Jürgen Klopp.