Germany Manager Questions Eddie Howe's Tactical Decisions
Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has openly criticised Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe's handling of striker Nick Woltemade, suggesting the player's recent struggles stem from being deployed in an unsuitable position. Nagelsmann's comments come despite including Woltemade in his latest Germany squad for upcoming matches against Switzerland and Ghana.
Woltemade's Difficult Season at St James' Park
The 24-year-old German international has endured a challenging period on Tyneside, managing just a single goal throughout 2026. His situation has deteriorated to the point where winger Anthony Gordon has displaced him from the central striker role in recent weeks. Newcastle's club-record £69 million signing was notably left on the bench for both legs of their Champions League elimination against Barcelona, casting doubt over his involvement in Sunday's crucial Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland.
Despite these club-level difficulties, Nagelsmann remains supportive of Woltemade's character and potential. "In a calmer setting, he's a really pleasant guy with a good sense of humour, a great character in my opinion," Nagelsmann stated during a press conference. "He's undoubtedly had a tough time in Newcastle, no doubt, but that's normal."
Tactical Concerns Over Midfield Deployment
Nagelsmann's primary criticism centres on Howe's recent tactical decisions regarding Woltemade's positioning. The Germany manager argues that playing the striker deep in midfield, sometimes as part of a defensive double pivot, severely limits his effectiveness.
"Lately, and this is just my opinion, judging him on his own, he's often played very deep," Nagelsmann explained. "When he's defending as a double pivot, it's quite a long way for Nick to cover. If he wants to get towards goal, it's very unlikely he'll score, because he's not a classic counter-attacking striker who can sprint at 36 km/h to outrun the opponent."
Nagelsmann emphasised the impracticality of expecting goal contributions from such positions: "And then, when he's 80 metres from goal, I don't think, as a British journalist, you can expect him to score 20 goals, because the distance is simply too great."
National Team Contrast and Future Prospects
The Germany manager highlighted the stark contrast between Woltemade's club and international roles, promising a more attacking deployment for the national team. "What I can promise is that he's rarely 80 metres away from the goal for us," Nagelsmann asserted. "If we have a game where we're 80 metres away from the goal, he won't play. I try to get him closer to 30 metres from the goal, and then he's dangerous and does a lot of things well."
Despite acknowledging Newcastle's right to manage their squad as they see fit, Nagelsmann admitted the situation concerns him personally. "I think very highly of him as a person. He's not someone who overthinks things. Nevertheless, the situation bothers me, of course," he concluded, leaving open questions about how Woltemade's club situation might affect his international prospects moving forward.
