Beyond the pitch, Kahn has challenged the DFB to rethink their entire approach to elite performance. He suggested that the organization has become too comfortable, prioritizing status and individual egos over the collective grit required to win international silverware.
“A strong organization isn’t defined by its one success, but by its ability to consistently produce exceptional performance,” Kahn explained. “In such organizations, responsibility isn’t left to chance. It’s practiced, exemplified, and made second nature. Performance is more important than status, ambition is greater than comfort, and the team is more important than individual ego.
“Perhaps this is precisely where our biggest misunderstanding lies. We admire top performance, but we’re increasingly unwilling to accept the price it demands. We want world-class results without maximum pressure. We want exceptional results without making sacrifices. But that’s not how top performance is achieved.”
