Lothar Matthäus knows a thing or two about success on the international stage, having won the 1990 FIFA World Cup as Germany captain.
Can Germany reclaim its glory under Klopp? The 1990 World Cup‑winning captain turned pundit shares his view on the new coach’s opening chapter.
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In particular, Matthäus, who is also Germany’s all-time record appearance-maker, expressed his enthusiasm for this extended international break and believes that Klopp is the right man for the job.
Bundesliga: Rarely has a country been so looking forward to UEFA Nations League games, but Klopp’s appointment has people intrigued. What are you expecting from their first four games? And what does Klopp need to do differently to his predecessors?
Lothar Matthäus: “Jürgen Klopp will be Jürgen Klopp, meaning he will not worry about what those before him did, whether right or wrong. He will find his own way, which he has demonstrated at his press conferences so far. They were dynamic, and he made his demands clear.
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“He was the DFB’s natural first choice. Klopp doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel; he just has to get the basics right. The tone he’s set restores what was missing.”
Bundesliga: What makes Klopp stand out?
Matthäus: “Klopp tells every player where they stand, even if the truth hurts. He called Deniz Undav and Oliver Baumann to explain their omission, and the squad respects that honesty.”
“At least they understand the reasoning. Klopp also tells them, ‘Show me what you’ve got. You have the quality to lift German football back to its rightful place.’”
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“Klopp’s pedigree spans Dortmund, Liverpool and Mainz. His confidence radiates, and I trust him completely.”
Bundesliga: When you look at the two squads, are there any names that you look at and think, “I’m happy to see him called up”?
Matthäus: “Naming them all would take an hour. Every player has proved his worth, and Klopp is planning beyond the present. He’s eyeing Germany’s future, which is why many youngsters earned a call‑up.”
Bundesliga: One of the players included is Nathaniel Brown, who made the switch to Bayern Munich in the summer. How versatile and mature is he already?
Matthäus: “He impressed at Eintracht Frankfurt and the World Cup, then kept his composure with Bayern. He’s primarily a left‑back in a back three, but his speed lets him thrive in a back four, adding real attacking thrust.”
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