After Germany’s convincing 2-0 victory over Serbia, Jürgen Klopp was feeling good about just about everything.
The last thing the German national team head coach was going to do was inadvertently say anything to spark a controversy. The German media, however, was going to try to make that happen, and here is how it played out (via @iMiaSanMia):
Jürgen Klopp refused to entertain any discussion over whether Joshua Kimmich is still untouchable, after the midfield of Pavlović, Bischof, Wirtz worked well
against Serbia.
The reporter’s question was an indirect hint: “To what extent did having Pavlović and Bischof alongside him make things easier for Flo Wirtz today, and does their understanding already come very close to your ideal?”
Klopp understood the hint and responded: “It’s such a lovely night. And without even mentioning it, you’re trying to make an issue out of something that isn’t an issue. Flo Wirtz doesn’t need specific players to play alongside him. The way we played suited Flo Wirtz. But to now turn that into him only being able to play with Pavlović… – perhaps that wasn’t actually the question.”
Reporter: “I meant it the other way around. What I was getting at was: Does Pavlović help Flo Wirtz in a particular way with his style of play? I wasn’t getting at Flo Wirtz, but rather at Pavlović and Bischof.”
Klopp: “And in the end, it’ll turn into a Jo Kimmich story. You guys can make that happen. Pavlović, Bischof, Wirtz – it worked really well.”
Reporter: “That’s up to you. I didn’t mention the name.”
Klopp: “Unfortunately, I can’t participate in this discussion. We can play a certain style of football in all sorts of different combinations; that’s the plan. The football has to remain consistent – the line-up can’t, mainly because players get injured. If someone is unavailable and we’re left standing there, looking at each other and saying, ‘We can only play like this if this player and that player are on the pitch,’ then that doesn’t make any sense. That’s why I’m very happy with the performance, but I don’t feel that it only works with this particular combination of players.”
Klopp’s point is one that might have been lost over the past decade — how Germany performs should depend on the system more than the individual players. Klopp wants to create a team with interchangeable parts that can be moved around based on the particular opponent or situation.
If he can achieve that, Germany could really be onto something for the 2028 European Championship.
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