Klopp: My mentality toward the UEFA Nations League has changed over time—I've come to love it

After announcing the latest squad list, German head coach Klopp attended a press conference. This article is the sixth part of that press conference.

Mr. Klopp, you just mentioned some surprising new additions, like Yannik Engelhardt, Treu, Max Rosenfelder, and other Freiburg players. What are your determining criteria in selecting them? Is it to implement your tactical philosophy or to inject fresh blood into the team?

That's a very good question! A team consists of different personalities, skills, and talents. People always talk about mentality, and mentality can't be bought with money, but it can be developed and cultivated. These Freiburg players have very good qualities, which stem from their development experience—Philipp, Yannik, and Max all have their own unique stories.

Max Rosenfelder may have only played 4 minutes in the Bundesliga this season, but he's an outstanding player who is currently being carefully developed with his workload controlled. Philipp can run up and down the wing day and night, and when people complained that Germany lacks right-backs, he played very well there; although Yannik's career hasn't always been smooth, he can sweep the midfield, do the dirty work, and also score goals.

Another outstanding example is Josha Vagnoman. If you were to write a book about his weaknesses, it might be quite thick; but if you wrote a book about his strengths, it would also be a very beautiful book! He has shown strong willingness and goal-scoring ability. I'm very willing to recognize and appreciate players who show fighting spirit, so I'm very much looking forward to integrating more with them in the future.

Hello Mr. Klopp, regarding the two Eintracht Frankfurt forwards: Younes was selected for the first squad, and Jonny Burkardt for the second squad. What's the thinking behind selecting Younes? What qualities attracted you?

Younes came to Eintracht Frankfurt from Elversberg. When I watched his first match, I thought: where did they find this gem? His development story is also very inspiring—rising from adversity after a serious injury. When the coaching staff discussed him, everyone agreed he should be called up. His attitude, fighting spirit, and intelligence in playing in defense without going offside are exceptional. Although he's 23 years old, he's still showing his best talent. Interestingly, he accidentally "leaked" the news to the media before the squad was announced and then sent me a special message to apologize. But what I saw was a young man very eager to be called up to the national team, and that's what moved me most.

As for Jonny Burkardt, if not for his injury, his ability would be beyond question. He had a very good season and showed excellent performance on the pitch. They have different strengths in attack, and pairing him with players like Kai Havertz gives the team many tactical options.

Mr. Klopp, you've repeatedly spoken about the UEFA Nations League. Your attitude toward this competition has changed over time, and now you're facing four official matches head-on. What role does the UEFA Nations League play in your squad selection?

In the past, when I was coaching at club level, national teams also had friendly matches, and some clever veterans might choose to skip friendlies to conserve energy. But now UEFA has launched the Nations League. Over time, my thinking has shifted from "not really liking the Nations League" to "loving the Nations League." I'm very pleased that we can now participate in competitive official matches. While I can't guarantee winning all four matches, I hope everyone can see the team's determination to win.

Every match is crucial. We'll play against the Netherlands, coached by Xavi Hernández, in Amsterdam. The football philosophy of Barcelona and the Netherlands is very similar; matches there are never friendlies, but intense direct battles. An advantage of having a new manager is there's no historical baggage, and we'll do our best to find solutions. Even with a busy schedule, we'll handle it calmly. Xavi has exactly the same preparation time as I do; this is a fair contest. Let's see who can prepare better.

Mr. Klopp, regarding the two Stuttgart players: did Finn Jeltsch also laugh during your conversation? What potential do you see in him? Also, is Angelo Stiller absent due to a knee injury, or was he simply not in your initial plans?

Finn Jeltsch was also very personable during our conversation. Among previously unknown players, Finn's performance data is remarkable—very calm and composed, with outstanding physical attributes and technical ability. Currently in the national team, aside from the retired Antonio Rüdiger, we have experienced veterans and rising young stars in their early twenties. Finn Jeltsch and Max Rosenfelder are outstanding representatives of the next generation of center-backs.

As for Angelo Stiller, I've had an in-depth discussion with him and Sebastian Hoeneß. He wasn't called up this time due to injury. Going forward, in the national team, we need to find the perfect balance between technique, creativity, pace, and strong mentality in midfield.

Regarding Assan Ouédraogo and Paris Brunner, and the captain question, who will be captain for the second squad? Also, is Paris Brunner under your consideration?

Regarding the captain for the second squad, I haven't given it a moment's thought. Someone will naturally wear the armband when the time comes. As for Paris Brunner, we've been monitoring him. Hannes Wolf on our coaching staff has a high opinion of him. He's a very talented young player who might get a chance with the U21 national team. Due to limited spots on the senior team—we can only include 20 outfield players—he wasn't selected this time.

Also, regarding Assan Ouédraogo, if not for his shoulder injury that requires surgery, he would 100% be in this squad. He's a very good player with exceptional talent, and I'm very much looking forward to his performance after he recovers.

How much do you rely on data analysis when selecting these 44 players?

When it comes to data, if I don't fully understand a player, I ask about their speed data—for example, someone running at 38 km/h. But I won't select someone for the national team based solely on data. Throughout my coaching career, from having no budget initially to later making acquisitions worth hundreds of millions of euros, it's always been about what value this player can bring to the team.

If someone says a midfielder lacks pace, but you look at Xavi, Iniesta—they think and pass quickly with their minds. Data is just a tool to help explain information. I might be considered a more traditional coach, but I remain open-minded. For me, what I see with my own eyes, hear with my own ears, and the intuitive feeling that comes from working closely with players in training is far more important than just data.

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