In the press conference ahead of the friendly match against France on Saturday 23 March 2024, national coach Julian Nagelsmann makes what I think is an impressive statement about football. His words speak for themselves on the subject of why pressure makes no sense in football:

"The headline for this game is quite simple: we kick.

I don't like it when there's too much pressure in football and what happens when people talk. And everything is negative, bad and bad. It doesn't do us any good. And it's not like that either.

There's life, it's big and football is part of it and it's always fun. We are all on the football pitch voluntarily. If we don't enjoy it because the pressure is overwhelming us, then we just stop playing football and do something else.

And everyone who is here is here voluntarily and should radiate this joy and fun, even if things go negatively. That's football! It's not politics or making big decisions that affect 30,000 employees. It's football, nothing more and nothing less! It should inspire, it should arouse emotions!

But it's always this paralysing thing that's brought in from outside and everything is bad and what happens if we don't win now? Yes, we try to win, and if we don't win, then we'll play again on Tuesday. If we win then we'll be happy and if we don't, then we'll compete again in May and June.

In the end, we have to measure ourselves against the EM. But we hold the measuring instrument in our hands. It's clear that society expects us to play attractive and successful football, that's what everyone wants. But I also believe that our country is looking forward to many other nations coming to our country to celebrate peaceful football festivals with us on our streets."

Source

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0WHENL7Hp8