Brought up in the school of hard knocks that was Wimbledon, he finds it difficult to understand why good players can have such low self-esteem.

Northern Ireland took the lead in this friendly thanks to David Healy's penalty, his 17th goal for the province.

Healy's cool finish came after Keith Gillespie's effort had been palmed away by Chelsea defender Robert Huth, who was sent off in the process.

Despite being down to ten men Germany equalised inside a minute through Gerald Asamoah.

The 2006 World Cup hosts then stepped up a gear with the mercurial Michael Ballack scoring twice, once from the spot, with Lukas Podolski completing the rout.

It was a disappointing end to a disappointing season for the province, who have now failed to win in nine games stretching back to last August.

Sanchez saw his team carve out a number of chances but knows he has much work to do.

"If you were a psychologist you would say we have a fear of winning matches, " said the Northern Ireland boss.

"When it is there to be had you need to know how to go and take that chance.

"It is hard for me to understand because my team (Wimbledon) did. To get into people's minds it can be done is perhaps the hardest thing I have to get over.

"The confidence is egg-shell thin. Once that egg shell starts to crack, it completely disintergrates.

"The goals are the thing that makes that egg shell crack and it is something we need to eradicate big time."

Asamoah's equaliser came when Northern Ireland switched off at the back and it proved to be a pivotal moment in the game.

Sanchez said: "We are the quietest team I have ever known. They are lovely lads but we need leaders.

"When we concede goals we think it is the end of the world. You can see the confidence drain from the players.

"They suddenly look two inches shorter and heavy legged. You can see it as individuals, you can see it as a team.

"Somehow we have got to go past that stage. There is a lot of work to do."

Sanchez was forced to field an understrength side against Germany as Gillespie was the only one of the five free agents named in the squad to make himself available.

Jeff Whitley, Phil Mulryne, Colin Murdock and James Quinn sat it out fearing that if they got injured it could harm their immediate futures.

Gillespie did himself no harm at right-back putting in a solid shift before going off in the 70th minute.

Sanchez said he had no quarrel with the quartet.

"I can understand why the four players did not play and I fully back their decision, " he said.

"Their livelihoods could have been affected by their situation here if they had got injured. They have to put their families first.

"I don't hold that against them. They were here for the week and trained with us. That is credit to them."

Sanchez did have something to smile about, however, as his assistant manager Gerry Armstrong announced his engagement to Belfast model Debbie McConnell on the touchline before the start of the game.

With the public address system blasting out "Congratulations" the ceremony was slightly surreal ahead of a match featuring one of world football's super powers.

Sanchez quipped: "There were some positives...we scored, there was a full house and Gerry got engaged. So it has not been a complete downer!