Jurgen Klopp threatens to quit Germany in explosive press conference after new job
New Germany head coach Jurgen Klopp laid down the law, threatening to quit his job should the press get involved in his personal life.
The 59-year-old former Liverpool boss has signed a four-year contract to lead his nation after their humiliating World Cup exit to Paraguay on penalties in the Round of 32.
He was introduced to the media on Friday and, in an explosive conference, he spoke for more than 45 minutes and made it clear he had taken the role out of national pride and not because he needed to get back into football.
Jurgen Klopp, Head Coach of Germany. Pic: Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images
And he sent an early warning he would not stand for any of the treatment which predecessor Julian Nagelsmann or former Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel – now England coach – had endured.
‘I’m not doing this job for myself. I’m doing it for you. I’m taking this job even though I’ve seen how you’ve treated Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel,’ said the former Liverpool manager in a stern address to assembled media.
‘If tomorrow Jurgen Klopp is s*** then I will be gone. But if the DFB (German Football Association) says “Come on, let’s discontinue the job” then that is it. And if you behave badly and don’t leave my family in peace, I will be gone, I’ll just turn away. I love this job, but I’m always ready to call it quits.’
Jurgen Klopp, Head Coach of Germany. Pic: Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images
Klopp said his own World Cup experience as a television pundit, where he criticised Julian Nagelsmann, had provided some insight, but it was no surprise he wanted to transfer his club football style to the national team.
‘It could have been a bit more intense,’ he added. ‘What we need to achieve is more intensity, more running, more dedication: counter-pressing has always been a key for me.’
‘What I am really looking forward to is working with players that play football that everyone loves; that doesn’t necessarily mean immediately successful but I want to create a situation where spectators go home and say “Wow, that was cool”.
Bernd Neuendorf (DFB-President), Director of Germany’s national football team Rudi Voeller, Jurgen Klopp (Head coach of the German national team) and Hans-Joachim Watzke (L-R/ DFL-President). Pic: Markus Ulmer – GES Sportfoto/Getty Images
‘Jürgen Klopp doesn’t automatically mean we are going to be world champions. Success is performance versus expectations. I think we need a new set of expectations.
‘We will leave no stone unturned, if there is anything to be adapted, changed or deleted, I will do exactly that.’
Klopp is reunited with former Liverpool assistants Pep Lijnders, who left Manchester City after Pep Guardiola’s departure, and Peter Krawietz, with Sven Bender – who played under Klopp at Borussia Dortmund – also joining.
