Bayern Munich supervisory board member Uli Hoeneß approves of the hiring of Jürgen Klopp as new German national team coach, but is concerned about some of the moves that Klopp has made — and how he is being branded as the DFB’s saviour.
“I personally consider Jürgen Klopp a very good coach, a really very good coach. But I’m not a big fan of ‘hero worship’. He’s already being given this status as if he can walk on water. He can’t change everything simply by laying on hands, either,” Hoeneß told Sky
Germany / RTL (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). “As we know him, he will work very hard. He will also do many things differently. And a lot of things will get better. But you have to give him time, and above all, you mustn’t believe that he is the Messiah.
“What I don’t like about the whole story is that his agent, Marc Kosicke, has been brought in as well. I don’t know exactly what he is supposed to do there. I see that as a problem. The whole thing strikes me as a kind of “friends takeover.” Klopp and Co. have taken over the DFB, and I think that’s wrong.”
Hoeneß might have a point about Klopp being deified, but the situation actually calls for it. Germany needs someone to own the entire process, to be the overseer of the organization, and to have enough pull to get things done…when he wants them done.
For too long, the German national team’s coach has just been the chef working with the ingredients that that have been given to him. Now, Klopp is trying to farm and grow those ingredients, so he can make the meal in his vision.
If Hoeneß — or anyone else — wants to get in the way of that, it will only be acting as an impediment to progress. Klopp did not need Germany, but the German national team definitely needs Klopp.
Song of the Week: “Alec Eiffel” by The Pixies
The Pixies have been featured here before but not this tune — “Alec Eiffel.”
Released in 1991 on the album “Trompe le Monde”, this was a staple of 90s alt rock for a spell. Enjoy:
Entertainment Rundown
I’m not a cultured man and had no idea what a Tiny Desk Concert was, but this video became the rage of social media over this week — mostly because of people hating on it. The artist, Audrey Hobert, is being smashed all over social media, but it might not even have much to do with her singing, but because of who her dad is, television producer Tim Hobert.
There were screams of “nepo baby” everywhere, which seems…over the top. Anyway, the song isn’t bad. I’m not saying it’s replacing anything on my playlist, but it’s fine for the modern synth pop genre of music — people just want to hate:
Oh, and I saw this, too, and as a child of the 80s…I approve:
Predictions
Franz Beckenbauer Supercup
Bayern Munich’s chaotic preseason is coming to an end and Borussia Dortmund is not exactly a cupcake opponent to get the regular season going.
The Bavarians are not fully healthy (Jamal Musiala, Serge Gnabry, and Lennart Karl are out), but they are deep and the roster is loaded with talent. While BVB is going to present an issue, Bayern Munich should be able to work past the Black and Yellows with some relative ease at this point.
Borussia Dortmund is dealing with some injuries and its roster changes will probably require a little more time before the unit is fully in sync. Let’s call it a competitive match, but not one where Bayern Munich is going be threatened with a loss.
Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 1-3 Bayern Munich
DFB Pokal
Friday, August 21, 2026
- Preußen Münster 0-2 Karlsruher SC
- SC St. Tönis 0-5 Eintracht Frankfurt
- SV Waldhof Mannheim 1-2 Kaiserslautern
- Hansa Rostock 0-3 VfB Stuttgart
Saturday, August 22, 2026
- Energie Cottbus 0-2 FC Augsburg
- SV Wehen Wiesbaden 0-3 Bayer Leverkusen
- FC Erzgebirge Aue 0-4 TSG Hoffenheim
- Hemelingen 0-4 Hannover 96
- Lüneburger SK Hansa 1-3 Werder Bremen
- MSV Duisburg 1-2 SV Elversberg
- Saarbrücken 0-2 Hertha Berlin
- Viktoria Köln 1-2 FC Nürnberg
- Eintracht Trier 0-6 RB Leipzig
- TSV 1860 Munich 1-2 Holstein Kiel
- SG Sonnenhof Großaspach 1-2 Arminia Bielefeld
Sunday, August 23, 2026
- SpVgg Greuther Fürth 2-3 VfL Bochum
- SSV Jeddeloh II 0-3 FC Heidenheim 1846
- Bahlinger SC 1929 1-2 FC Magdeburg
- FC Carl Zeiss Jena 1-2 SV Darmstadt 98
- Schott 0-4 Borussia Mönchengladbach
- TSV Eintracht Braunschweig 0-2 FC Union Berlin
- VFB Krieschow 0-3 Mainz 05
- Westfalia Rhynern 1-4 Dynamo Dresden
- FC Phönix Lübeck 0-3 SC Paderborn 07
- Fortuna Düsseldorf 1-4 SC Freiburg
- Rot-Weiss Essen 0-1 St. Pauli
Monday, August 24, 2026
- SC Verl 1924 1-2 Hamburg SV
- VSG Altglienicke 1-3 VfL Wolfsburg
- Würzburger Kickers 0-4 FC Köln
- Hallescher FC 0-2 Schalke 04
Prediction Records
- Total: 126-59
- Perfect Picks: 22
- Bundesliga Last Matchday: 0-0
- Bundesliga Overall: 0-0
- DFB-Pokal: 0-0
- World Cup: 71-28
- International Friendlies: 50-30
- Champions League: 0-0
- Club Friendlies: 5-1
- Franz Beckenbauer Supercup: 0-0
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