Coach

You shouldn't be scared of putting together a team made up of experts who are better than the coach in some aspects... So for me personally, it was important to have people in my environment who discuss things with me, who give me their opinions, but who are loyal to me and who are reliable.

It's important to have players like Schweinsteiger and Khedira, the connectors, the symmetry-makers in the game. They can take the tempo out of the game or pick it up.

There are things you can learn about certain players while watching them in action in a friendly.

If you have a good product, like football, you should also think about limiting it to keep the quality high.

Good physical conditioning is essential for success.

If you become world champions, there is nothing to top that. It's the result of many years of work, good decisions inside the association, good training and good players.

The English clubs Arsenal and Manchester United focus on continuity with the same coaches for years.

I don't think it's such a bad thing to have internal debate between coach and leading players.

Static strikers do not exist anymore.

I take sporting criticism on board very keenly and with deference, and I also try to make decisions based on it.

Sometimes it's natural to do the safe pass, the no-frills thing, to pass it back to the goalkeeper. But I want them to do the daring thing.

If you look at the players, they need more of a break. Some players only get as little as three weeks after a major tournament and it's straight back to the grind.

Cristiano Ronaldo is sensational, a very good professional, an incredible goalscoring machine for many years, but Messi is the most complete player I have seen.

German virtues are now about technically good players playing attacking football.

The World Cup is the toughest challenge there is. You have seven matches where you have to bring your best and cannot let up at any turn.

For us to reach the Euro 2008 final was a success.

Without planning there will be no success.

The World Cup is the toughest challenge there is. You have seven matches where you have to bring your best and cannot let up at any turn.

I think the core job of a coach is to select the right players for a tournament. You need players who are mentally and physically fit, who are able to deal with difficult moments.

Midfielders must do everything.