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“I would like the players to be vaccinated, but in the end it is their own choice” -Hansi Flick

Germany and Bayern Munich defender Niklas Süle tested positive for Covid 19, forcing four other players to quarantine, prompting more vaccine discussions.

Update:
“I would like the players to be vaccinated, but in the end it is their own choice” -Hansi Flick

German national head coach Hansi Flick is stressing the importance of being vaccinated against Covid 19 after Niklas Süle tested positive and forced four other teammates into quarantine.

Germany will play its penultimate World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein in Wolfsburg on Thursday without Süle, Joshua Kimmich, Serge Gnabry, Jamal Musiala, and Karim Adeyemi. The German Football Association confirmed that Süle actually has received two vaccinations, but it’s possible that others on the team have not. Süle flew with four other players who are still allowed to play, and it’s unclear whether that is because they are vaccinated and the others are not. Kimmich, for example, did confirm a few weeks back that he was not vaccinated, leading to speculation about the others.

Hansi Flick's vaccine perspective

Hansi Flick said he believes people should get the vaccine, but as there is no mandate in Germany, people are free to make the decision themselves and so should be respected.

"Nevertheless, vaccinations are not mandatory and we shouldn't judge those who have not yet been vaccinated because they have concerns," Flick said. "I am personally of the opinion that everyone should get vaccinated but, as long as it's not mandatory, everyone has the right to not do it."

Interestingly, Flick previously criticized Karl Lauterback, the health spokesmen for Germany’s Social Democratic Party, who expressed his disapproval of Bayern’s trip to Qatar in February even though the country was in lockdown at the time. He also condemned the decision to allow Thomas Müller to travel to Germany just days after testing positive for Covid 19.

"Mr. Lauterbach always has some sort of comment to make," Flick had said. “In this whole discussion about corona, I can't listen to these so-called experts anymore."

It would seem he has since changed his tune. With Süle, Kimmich, Gnabry, Musiala, and Adeyami out, Ridle Baku, Maximilian Arnold, Jonathan Tah and Kevin Volland will be in to replace them for Thursday’s game against Liechtenstein and Sunday’s game against Armenia.