“Maybe we think we’re better than we really are”

Ilkay Gündogan has given his thoughts on Germany’s 1-4 defeat to Japan.

Ilkay Gündogan.

Photo: Granada, CC-by-SA 4.0

Hansi Flick’s Germany team hit a new low tonight as they were beaten 1-4 at home by Japan.

In a post-match interview, new Germany captain Ilkay Gündogan admitted that Japan deserved to win.

“Japan were clearly the better team. They were superior in every way. We also made too many individual mistakes,” said Gündogan.

He went on to point out that there’s a big gap between Germany’s expectations and their actual results.

“The gap between ambition and reality is still big,” Gündogan said.

“We are not good enough right now. That’s the reality.

“Maybe we think we are better than we are,” the midfielder said.

Germany have been in terrible form since the World Cup and have lost four of their last five games, including tonight’s defeat.

Fingers are being pointed at Hansi Flick, but Gündogan still believes the former Bayern Munich coach is the right man for the job.

“He is motivated, gives good speeches. It’s not a question of the coach. The team have to question themselves too.”

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