According to Bild, Hans-Joachim Watzke, vice president of the German Football Association (DFB), publicly supports national team manager Jürgen Klopp's remarks on patriotism and national pride, stating he agrees 100% with the message Klopp conveyed. He also believes that while Klopp can express political views, he should not endorse the political positions of specific political parties.

Watzke said in an interview with Welt am Sonntag: "This is a good and correct signal. I agree 100%." This came after Klopp said during his first Nations League squad announcement: "I don't want to hand over national pride to the wrong people." The national team manager advocates for "positive patriotism," emphasizing that people can take pride in Germany while maintaining open, diverse, and tolerant attitudes.

Watzke, the longtime former chairman of Borussia Dortmund, clearly sided with Klopp. He said: "The national team manager is a public figure. He should have his own political views, and he can certainly express them." At the same time, he drew a line: "But he should not endorse the political positions of specific political parties."

Klopp's remarks were widely understood as indirect criticism of the AfD. While his statements received considerable support, they also provoked fierce criticism. Watzke clarified his interpretation: "I don't think Jürgen has any sympathy for the AfD. What he wanted to say was: 'You can be a patriot, but that doesn't mean you have to be far-right.'"

Watzke also fully agrees with Klopp's approach on the substance of the matter. The DFB vice president stated: "Like him, I believe that healthy patriotism is good for us. We still have every reason to be happy that we were born in Germany or live here." Regarding Klopp, he added: "Jürgen could never possibly end up on the wrong side."

Watzke's political assessment of the national team manager is: "He is a thorough democrat, but he is not completely tied to any specific party politics. That's why he has such high credibility." He also said: "If he uses that for our democratic community, I think that's excellent."

This represents a clear position from the influential DFB vice president. Through the support of Klopp, Watzke, and others, it further demonstrates that German football aims not only for sporting revival but also seeks to regain confidence and reclaim the concept of "national pride."

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