Premiere for national coach Klopp: first stress test for the packaging artist

Another great message from Jürgen Klopp! The worst didn't happen in Amsterdam during his eagerly awaited debut as coach of the German national team. He had already been twisting and turning the game in his mind's eye for almost ten minutes in the press room of the Johan Cruyff Arena when he explained: "The worst thing that could have happened of all the negative scenarios would have been if we had played the best game in our time together today. Because then everyone else would have become worse. I wouldn't have liked to see that. So we have a lot of scope for improvement."

Or to put it another way: There is a lot of room for anticipation in German men's football. The artistically beautiful equalizer to make it 1-1 by the Dutchman Cody Gakpo in stoppage time could only dampen the German mood a little, because in the end it only added another point to the list of possible improvements: How do I take a lead shortly before the end.

Seen in this way, the overall rather shaky and wild performance of the German team at the start of the Nations League was only helpful. And in front of the journalists, the national coach highlighted the strengths anyway. There was so much in this game that “we can work really well with,” said the national coach enthusiastically.

By the way, these are typical Klopp moments. The thought came to mind once again: The man can simply win. In any case, that is what has stuck with people in recent years and has given him a role as a savior in recent weeks that goes far beyond football.

This in turn also has to do with the starting position, which is splendid for someone who knows how to sell the less good moments of a football game. After the DFB team's repeated dismal World Cup elimination, this time against Paraguay in the round of 16 at the end of June, negative thinking was in high demand. And so the football team quickly became a symbol of a lost country in which nothing works anymore. Who shouldn't be able to beat this German team? Nobody wanted to imagine the future in more detail.

Now, just three months later, there is someone who is now almost adored on the podium, who pours out optimism like free beer and has had modesty and public spirit written on his forehead with the help of a baseball cap: “One in 83 million.”

The cap with the lettering is a new trademark from Klopp, which was first seen at the remarkable presentation of his exorbitantly large squad last week. Because before the German team was able to shine with successful actions after the World Cup frustration, Jürgen Klopp had already felt like he had the absolute majority in this country behind him.

Surprisingly little was needed: words instead of actions. When he introduced his 44-man squad, his casual manner of spreading optimism sparked a spirit of optimism that obviously served a longing in this country that transcends football. His inserted short speech on a possible positive patriotism in contrast to the AfD particularly strengthened the effect. An editorial writer for the weekly newspaper Die Zeit then enjoyed the “festival of encouraging adjectives,” while the Bild chief author was moved to tears by Klopp’s speech, as the paper itself reported.

Klopp is a man of his word. Many people like to hear him talk, which has made him the most visible advertising face in German sport, and almost everything is bought from him. Only when he put himself in the service of the Austrian shower manufacturer, which uses football as a marketing tool, did some people take offense at him. But the past few weeks have been enough for it to have been almost forgotten.

By a considerable decibel margin, Klopp was celebrated most by the German fans in the Amsterdam Arena when all the names were read out by the stadium announcer. The star of the DFB team is undoubtedly in the coaching bench.

Couldn't he also train a squad of 83 million Germans and wouldn't he need a motivational coach instead of a Chancellor anyway? These questions came to mind after last week's hype.

The game against the Netherlands sharpened our sense of reality again. Above all, it is Klopp's packaging of the national team's achievements that shines so much. What was completely forgotten was how quickly the German defense can be played apart. One or two World Cup memories were painfully refreshed on Thursday evening. In any case, the new Dutch coach Xavi was not wrong; his team had the better opportunities in the duel between the newcomers.

But of course interim reports after just one game are out of the question. Jürgen Klopp rightly pointed out this Thursday evening: “To develop your own style of football, you need more than two days of training.” And he demanded: “We have to go deeper now.” After the next international matches for the German selection, there will inevitably be more talk about content than about optimism.

And it was certainly evident in Amsterdam that Klopp's speeches can give you energy and self-confidence. This was particularly noticeable with debutant Philipp Treu from SC Freiburg, who filled the biggest problem area in German football, the right-back position, with the right amount of zeal and intelligence for 90 minutes with impressive confidence.

His coach reacted to his vicious duels with a clenched fist several times. Treu was the best example of how Klopp can speak strongly to players. When it comes to emotionality and commitment, the whole team was convincing. And that means the national coach has already gained a lot.

But spreading positivity and optimism will be just one facet of Jürgen Klopp's work. There will probably be more talk about football again in the next few weeks. And that might not be the worst scenario.