Football | Jürgen Klopp: National team under pressure in front of Serbia

Motivator and crowd-catcher: Jürgen Klopp (M.) Photo: dpa/Christian Charisius The only thing that would have been missing was if Jürgen Klopp had floated onto the stage on the tightrope under the roof of the Adidas headquarters. The countdown was on, more than 1,000 employees crowded into the airy ground floor and the glass galleries over four floors as CEO Björn Gulden questioned the national coach for a farewell interview. The 59-year-old, himself a long-time testimonial in the three-stripes look, spoke in his usual humorous manner - and for the international staff only in English. Being responsible for the German national team, the coach and entertainer assured with a broad grin, "changes everything: I know it's something big."

The partnership between the Herzogenaurach-based global corporation Adidas and the German Football Association (DFB), which has existed for more than 70 years, will end at the turn of the year because the American sporting goods giant Nike is paying exorbitantly more. We are talking about 100 million euros annually. The fact that the national coach, who was only installed in August, is given the bright spotlight - and not DFB President Bernd Neuendorf - says a lot about his omnipresent position.

But not every successful club coach is also a good national coach.

Some may find Klopp's rhetoric a bit exaggerated, but he is currently stirring the best German footballers out of their lethargy. Defender Jonathan Tah revealed an important detail: "I always write down my thoughts in the evening." Before the Nations League games against Serbia in Belgrade (Friday, 8:45 p.m./RTL) and against the Netherlands in Berlin (Monday, 8:45 p.m./ARD), he felt again "like the little boy" who dreams of a great career. He was so happy.

It's exactly what the motivator and people-catcher Klopp wants to do, "to build a team that no one likes to play against. And I have the feeling that things are already going in the right direction." Some say: Klopp's spirit blows through some corners of the national team with hurricane force. But after three World Cup defeats in a row, don't we also need this breath of fresh air? The improver wants the highly paid top players from Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund not to see international matches as a chore between two Champions League highlights, but rather as highlights.

In the Nations League, everything is still possible, from reaching the quarter-finals to relegation to the B category. Klopp supposedly doesn't feel any pressure: "I've known myself for 59 years and have always tried to do my best - nothing more is possible." And this job gives him something new: "When I go to the pharmacy, 80- and 90-year-old women wish me luck. I didn't know they knew who I was." Such anecdotes are just as captivating as eulogies.

At the anniversary meeting of the 1996 European champions, Klopp took the floor to thank Berti Vogts for his perseverance after the 1994 World Cup. “What you went through with some idiots here, what you did with it in 1996,” is one of the greatest coaching achievements he has ever heard of in his life. Klopp is happy to explain a lot. Basically, his approachable style of team leadership is of course not wrong in a (football) world of superficialities. He believes that every group, whether company, team or family, should be guided with “common sense, empathy and, ideally, love.”

He takes a pragmatic approach to the compilation. Apart from Marc-André ter Stegen in goal, his framework looks no different than at the World Cup: Jonathan Tah and Nico Schlotterbeck as a defensive duo, Joshua Kimmich as a midfield organizer, Florian Wirtz as a pacesetter, Kai Havertz as a center forward.

The Swabian-born Klopp stood for long-term success in his clubs. A good seven years as a coach at FSV Mainz 05, where a quarter of a century ago he was promoted by manager and car dealer Christian Heidel in the middle of the crazy hustle and bustle of the second division. Seven years at Borussia Dortmund, where he dedicated himself to forming a championship team that took the trophy away from FC Bayern. Ultimately, almost nine years at Liverpool FC, where the football teacher contributed more to German-English understanding than Chancellor Angela Merkel.

But not every successful club coach is also a good national coach. At a DFB coaching conference, Klopp spoke in detail about his philosophy. Many top teams in Germany practice man-marking, which he is moderately enthusiastic about. »Whenever the eagle comes on the chest, we play differently. We basically had three days to brainwash." What his newly assembled team offered in the first leg against Serbia (2-0) was worthy of all honor. »After fifteen minutes I was happy because I knew that we were having an impact.«

At that time, however, a grateful audience in Munich provided willing support. Now, no spectators are actually allowed in the Rajko Mitić Stadium, but a passage allows children under 15 years of age and accompanying persons to enter, despite the UEFA sanctions. The Serbs are expecting 5,000 visitors to the Belgrade concrete bowl. 50 German fans are also allowed in. Klopp's spirit must work in a half-ghost game. Interesting experimental setup. At the end, above the symbols and sayings, there are the results and the table. Otherwise the high-flyer Jürgen Klopp will also face a hard landing.

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