After announcing the latest squad list, Germany's head coach Klopp held a press conference. This article is the second part of that press conference.

You've mentioned several times during your club visits that you place great importance on cooperation and workload management. Therefore, compiling two squad lists is also a consideration for workload management. Does this mean some players from the first squad list could remain to participate in the second phase?

Yes, exactly. We planned for several first-team players to stay longer. For clubs, this international break is also a very rare and long respite. It's entirely reasonable and correct for clubs to give players a few days of rest during the intense season ahead, which is followed by the most demanding period of the year – the Champions League in full swing, the Europa League in full force, and domestic leagues ramping up as well.

Specifically, we have three players who have gone through difficult periods: Nico Schlotterbeck, Jamal Musiala, and Serge Gnabry. As long as circumstances permit, we hope they can participate in the full two-week training camp to help them regain their rhythm, maintain their form in regular training, and get appropriate playing opportunities in different matches based on their individual physical condition. Additionally, goalkeeper Finn Dahmen is on both squad lists. He's a top-level goalkeeper I'd like to observe more closely for a while.

Mr. Klopp, welcome. You just mentioned goalkeepers. I see six goalkeepers on the squad list. Excluding the one who was called up twice, there are actually five different goalkeepers. So, who is your first-choice goalkeeper? Is there a clear number 1 right now?

For now, yes. Marc-André Ter Stegen will start the first match. When we discuss squad lists, the consistent idea is that a team needs stability and a strong core. If the core is stable enough, then around it you can be creative and even try bold and young combinations. But I believe what's necessary first and foremost is a stable core.

I've known Marc-André for a very, very long time – it seems like forever. Over the past decade, Manuel Neuer has been the best goalkeeper in the world, but we all know Ter Stegen has always been ready behind him. Even if he plays, there will absolutely be no drop in quality, because he is also world-class. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury at the most inopportune moment. But now he is completely recovered, and he remains the excellent goalkeeper he always was. We've observed him very closely, and he possesses the extensive experience needed.

Some might say he's currently playing in the Eredivisie, but I can tell you that in the Netherlands, Ajax no longer has the absolute dominance it had ten years ago. The competition there is very intense, and he faces plenty of shots, so he performs very well there. He's a modern goalkeeper with excellent distribution. Of course, the primary task of a goalkeeper is to make saves, and he is unmatched in that regard.

However, everything depends on performance. You're asking me the question today, and I'm answering it this way now; but if a player performs poorly or underperforms during the few weeks of national team training available in the year, that will naturally affect decisions. Getting the number 1 shirt doesn't automatically guarantee a spot. Please don't read too much into that. Positions always depend on performances on the pitch, and the lads know that very well.

In the current squad, some players have shown excellent form in a short time, while others are currently facing some difficulties, but that doesn't mean the door is closed to anyone. I care more about the next match than the last one. Playing one international match doesn't automatically guarantee a second, and playing 100 doesn't automatically guarantee a 101st. The key is to be fully prepared for the next match and to make us all feel that serving your country means everything. This applies not only to goalkeepers but to all other positions as well.

We all know what incredible goalkeeper talent Germany possesses. In the past, people may have mistakenly thought that Germany, a traditional powerhouse in goalkeeping, was suddenly facing a goalkeeper crisis. Not at all! Honestly, absolutely not. Whether we can win titles in the future will absolutely not depend on the goalkeeper position. We have extremely talented goalkeepers, and in addition to Jonas Urbig, Alexander Nübel, and Finn Dahmen, there are also younger generations like Barkhaus, Ernst, and others. I'm sure I've forgotten some. Germany truly has abundant reserves at the goalkeeper position. For now, at least, those are the choices we've made.

Hello Mr. Klopp, you've placed Joshua Kimmich in midfield, which will relieve many people, as he's returned to the center. What do you expect from him in terms of athletic performance and leadership off the pitch? Will he continue to be captain?

Top-level performance! The high standard he demonstrates every week, every three days, in Bayern's intense matches – I hope to see that in the national team as well. There's no doubt that a player with his rich experience and age must set an example. At the same time, we must adapt to a new style of football.

We train on Monday and play on Thursday, so we must quickly implement tactical concepts. Beyond the overall style of play, particularly collective defensive work, because stability starts with defense. Defense requires commitment from everyone, and it requires everyone to be fully integrated. This applies to Joshua and everyone else. I have no doubt about this – we've already discussed it. I expect his undisputed potential and the superior quality that comes with it to be brought to 100% to the national team every time.

Regarding the position question, during my discussions with the coaching staff, he was at one point considered for right-back. This doesn't mean I don't understand the previous decision to deploy him at right-back, and he can indeed play that position, but we view him as the heart of midfield.

Traduit par IA.

Le site web d'AF est désormais en ligne ! Actualités complètes, commentaires, détails des matchs et statistiques sur votre ordinateur. Visitez : www.allfootballapp.com