Klopp comment: Disturbing remarks overshadow his grand vision as Germany coach

DFB Press Conference

Jürgen Klopp introduced himself as the new Germany head coach at a press conference on Friday. In doing so, it became clear what the role means to him and the significance he attaches to it. At the same time, however, he also showed his flawed understanding of the media. A comment.

Jürgen Klopp's opening monologue at his unveiling as the new Germany head coach on Friday lasted more than 10 minutes. He used the occasion to underline his drive and make a credible case for what the post means to him. Despite huge success with Mainz 05, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool, Klopp even called it the "high point of my life".

He also used the monologue to cast himself, with a degree of self-aggrandisement, yes, that is possible despite his incredible CV, as something of a gift to German football and the journalists in the room. "I'm not doing this for myself, but for you," Klopp said, repeating the message several times in different forms while also exposing his flawed understanding of the media.

Turning to the journalists, Klopp said: "On this path, which ideally we will all embark on together, we will need you too. That's why we are here today and have the opportunity to commit ourselves to a shared path." But it is not the job of independent media to be part of a "shared path" with the subject of their reporting. Their role is to follow it critically from the outside and independently point out both positive and negative developments. In the end, coaches and players still carry primary responsibility for success.

Almost patronisingly, Klopp said he had taken the job "even though I saw how you treated Julian". After the embarrassing exit at the World Cup, former Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann was indeed heavily criticised, possibly too heavily in places.

Yet Klopp's accusation is disconcerting because he was ultimately part of that "you" at the World Cup. As a TV pundit, he also criticised Nagelsmann and, even before the very first World Cup match, made his completely unnecessary "still" remark. Yes, he apologised for it. Even so, he had triggered a huge debate and made the job extremely difficult for his predecessor. How would he deal with it if someone were to torpedo the "shared path" he is now invoking in the same way?

Fundamentally, Klopp did not need to devote so much of his first press conference to criticising the media and in the process even threatened to resign. That was especially true with DFB vice-president Hans-Joachim Watzke striking a similar tone in his brief opening statement. It almost felt as though the reporting had been identified as one reason for the latest World Cup failure. A little more humility about the current state of German football would have been appropriate.