Klopp ‘Super Happy’ After First Games As Germany Coach
THESSALONIKI (Greece), Oct 5 (NNN-dpa) -- Jürgen Klopp concluded his first stint of games as Germany coach with a goalless draw against Greece in the Nations League on Sunday evening, reported German Press Agency (dpa).
That result followed a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands in his debut, a defeat to Greece in their first clash and a 2-0 win over Serbia. But despite the mixed results, Klopp was “super happy”.
“We've taken the first step. And to sum it up, I can say that I'm super happy about that,” he said after Sunday’s game.
“I never would have thought that after just one week with this group, we'd be able to play football like this,” he said, referring to the performance of his particularly young and energetic squad in the win over Serbia and in the first half against Greece.
“An incredible football game. Top-notch in every aspect, really top-notch. In the end, we just didn’t score that damn goal.”
For his first international break in charge of the team, Klopp named a two-part squad, with only a few players in both groups. The second group, which beat Serbia on Thursday and played on Sunday, got together only last Monday.
Klopp took charge of the team after Julian Nagelsmann stepped down following a disappointing World Cup.
“A few weeks ago, we said German football was at rock bottom. We have no talent. We’re lacking here, we’re lacking there,” Klopp said.
“I’ve worked with 44 players over the past two weeks, and they certainly don’t lack talent. They all want to work hard. And when the players arrive next time, the national team’s ‘football hard drive’ won’t be empty. We don’t have to start from scratch,” he added.
Germany’s next game is against Serbia on November 13, and they will conclude the Nations League group stage against the Netherlands on November 16.
Klopp plans to hold a feedback meeting with every player, but has already said that his squad for the November matches will be much smaller.
“Of course, we won’t be going into it with 44 players. It will be a smaller roster, that much is clear,” Klopp said, referring to ‘23 or 24 players’.
Germany are third in Group A2 behind the Netherlands and Greece, who are tied on eight points.
--NNN-dpa
