According to Goal.com, Gnabry was included in Klopp's Germany squad despite playing only 13 minutes over the last five months.

Last week, Jürgen Klopp made waves when he announced his first squad as Germany coach. The new national team manager called up 16 new players in his 44-man roster, including Serge Gnabry, who hadn't played a competitive match in over five months before Klopp took the job.

The 28-year-old winger suffered a severe adductor injury in mid-April, causing him to miss Bayern Munich's season-ending fixtures, the Copa América, pre-season training, and the start of the current season. Gnabry made his comeback the day after the squad announcement, playing 13 minutes in a 7-0 victory over Union Berlin.

Klopp's decision to call up Gnabry despite his lack of match fitness sends a clear message. Moreover, alongside Nico Schlotterbeck, Musiala, and Finn Dahmen, Gnabry was one of only four players retained for the entire international break.

For some omitted players, Klopp's special treatment of Gnabry—combined with his explanations for their absence—might seem inconsistent. Undav was left out because, according to Klopp, he "hasn't really gotten into the season yet," despite having played six games and provided four assists this season while dealing with an Achilles issue. Sané, who has started every official match for Galatasaray, was also excluded because Klopp felt he "hasn't really found his place yet."

Neither player has been entirely convincing recently, so Klopp's decision to omit them in favor of fresh talent is understandable. However, Gnabry is clearly even less "into the season" and has "found his place" far less than Undav and Sané. He lacks match rhythm and is nowhere near full fitness. The difference is that Klopp clearly still believes Gnabry can play a crucial role in Germany's rebuild, unlike the two previously established World Cup regulars now sidelined.

Gnabry has also benefited from missing that disastrous World Cup, making him appear less burdened in Klopp's eyes and among fans. At 28, he remains relatively young in this squad—only captain Kimmich (31) and new goalkeeper Ter Stegen (34) are older.

Gnabry's recent resurgence is striking. Not long ago, he was mired in controversy at both club and national level, criticized for his high wages and injury problems. Like Sané, Goretzka, and occasionally Kimmich, he had come to symbolize German football's stagnation.

Until spring 2025, Gnabry was considered a potential departure from Bayern. Then fortune shifted dramatically in his favor. Thomas Müller moved to Vancouver, Musiala suffered a serious injury, and Bayern pursued a cost-conscious transfer strategy. "Serge, we're offering you a starting opportunity in the number 10 position!" Gnabry seized this unexpected chance.

Last season, he was directly involved in 21 goals and, operating as Bayern's creative fulcrum between Kane, Olise, and Díaz, added new dimensions to their attack. He delivered standout performances in the Champions League, particularly in the group stage against Paris Saint-Germain—an almost flawless first-half display before being substituted at halftime following Díaz's red card—and strong showings against Atalanta in the round of 16 and Real Madrid in the quarter-final. The seemingly impossible then happened: Gnabry signed a new Bayern contract in February, extending through 2028.

Only that serious injury in the crucial final stages of the season could derail him. Had Gnabry maintained his form from the Paris group stage through the semi-final against Real Madrid, the outcome could have been entirely different.

During Gnabry's recovery, competition for his attacking midfield role at Bayern has intensified. Bayern signed Ismaël Saibari from PSV Eindhoven for €50 million following his strong World Cup display. Musiala has also recovered to near-peak form. Olise and Lennart Carl can also operate centrally.

As Gnabry prepared for his comeback against Union Berlin, coach Kompany stated, "We haven't forgotten how good he was last season." Kompany emphasized that if Gnabry "returns to his level, all other players in the same position must also perform well," adding, "This creates healthy competition within the team, which is ultimately what we want."

With Klopp's backing, Gnabry is now well-positioned to rediscover his form within the international framework. Gnabry said, "For me, the fact that he included me in the squad so I can maintain my match rhythm is huge." It's entirely possible he will feature in one of these four upcoming matches as he continues his comeback.

AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com