New Germany head coach Jürgen Klopp said he was not concerned by his first defeat in his second match in charge of the national team, a 1-0 loss to visiting Greece in Augsburg on Monday in the second round of the UEFA Nations League.
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In Klopp’s first match in Germany, his side lacked the attacking efficiency and energy they had shown in his debut as coach, when they drew 1-1 away to the Netherlands on Thursday.
Germany struggled to find a way through the Greek defense for the first hour before the visitors scored on a counterattack, with Dimitrios Kourbelis finding the net in the 74th minute.
It was Greece’s first-ever victory over Germany, after seven defeats and three draws between the two sides since 1960.
“I’m not bothered by it at all personally. I’ve lost far more matches in my life than I would have liked,” Klopp told ARD.
“But as long as you learn the right lessons, a defeat is ultimately just information, no different from a win,” he added.
“We urgently need matches like this. These are exactly the kind of games we wanted to play,” Klopp said.
Germany captain Joshua Kimmich said: “He (Klopp) has made it completely clear what he wants, and as players, we have to implement that.”
Several key players were absent as Klopp sought to gain a clearer picture of the talent available to him. However, the defeat highlighted the scale of the task facing him as he attempts to revive the struggling German football powerhouse.
The 59-year-old coach took charge of the national team in July, succeeding compatriot Julian Nagelsmann, after the four-time world champions were eliminated in the round of 32 at the North American World Cup, marking their third consecutive early exit from the tournament.
“I think the most important thing is that we remain united, and that won’t change,” center-back Jonathan Tah said.
“Of course, with all the excitement surrounding the new coach, expectations from outside can become very high. But ultimately, it is about what we deliver on the pitch and the level of our performances,” he added.
Klopp included 16 uncapped players in an expanded 44-man squad after saying he would use these competitions to assess the players available to him.
Among five changes to the starting lineup, the inclusion of Hoffenheim striker Bambasi Conte was particularly surprising, given that he had made only four appearances in the topflight.
Former Germany international Bastian Schweinsteiger, meanwhile, expressed his dissatisfaction with the current national team, comparing it with Germany sides of previous eras.
“We are no longer one of the elite teams; we have become an average team. We no longer have players capable of making the difference,” he told ARD.
“Even Greece has Karetsas, Tzolis and Pavlidis players capable of making the difference. I hope Klopp builds a team that plays in his own style,” he added.
Jesus Explains Ronaldo Decision
Meanwhile, Portugal coach Jorge Jesus said that “the course of the match did not allow” veteran forward Cristiano Ronaldo to play, explaining his decision to keep him on the bench during Portugal’s 2-1 win over Norway on Monday in the Nations League.
Jesus, who previously worked with Ronaldo at Saudi club Al Nassr, opted not to bring on the 41-year-old star despite having said before the match that Ronaldo would play, either from the start or off the bench.
Jesus explained that the decision was not related to Ronaldo’s physical condition, stressing that the player was fit and ready to play and that it was a tactical decision dictated by the course of the match.
“He didn’t come on. I was thinking of bringing him on, perhaps for half an hour, but the game started to demand other things. I felt that the time was not right to bring him on,” Jesus said.
“I had already agreed with him that he would play the final half-hour, and I told him I would put him into the game. But the match did not require it. Gonçalo Ramos was playing well and scored a goal, while another goal of his was disallowed. I felt it was not the right time to take him off. As time went on, it was no longer the right moment for Cristiano to come on. Instead, it became more important to bring on a player who could help maintain the team’s balance and protect the result,” he added.
Jesus stressed that Ronaldo was physically fit enough to play.
“It was not about protecting him physically, because he was in a condition that allowed him to play for as long as I wanted,” he said.
Asked about Ronaldo walking directly toward the tunnel leading to the dressing rooms without acknowledging the fans after the final whistle, Jesus said he could not comment on the reason before speaking to the player.
“I didn’t notice it. I only learned about it after the match, when I was asked several questions about it. Only he can answer why,” he said.
“Of course, I will speak to him. The national team is the national team; it is not like a club. But I cannot determine what was going through his mind. I will know after I speak to him,” Jesus added.
Portugal will now face Denmark on October 1, with Jesus hinting that Ronaldo could return to action.
