Jürgen Klopp is preparing for his first major Germany-Netherlands clash as Germany manager, but the former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool boss does not view the historic rivalry through the same personal lens as some of his predecessors.
Klopp acknowledged the significance of the fixture while making it clear that he has never personally experienced the Germany-Netherlands rivalry in the same way as someone such as Rudi Völler, who represented Germany during some of the rivalry’s most memorable encounters.
“That doesn’t mean anything to me, because I’ve never felt that rivalry. It would be better to ask Rudi Völler, as someone who actually experienced it firsthand. I know what this game means, and ideally, the atmosphere tomorrow night will be heated. It will be a difficult game for the players because the opposition is really good, with tremendous talent and some excellent footballers. It’s crazy how many top players the Dutch national team has. If we want to have any chance at all, we have to approach it as a real ‘derby.’ For us, it’s the beginning of something. We want to get off to a good start. Everything surrounding the game only plays a minor role,” Klopp said (as captured by @iMiaSanMia).
Klopp’s comments strike a balance between acknowledging the occasion and keeping Germany focused on the football itself. He clearly expects the atmosphere to reflect the history between the two countries, but he does not want that rivalry to become a distraction.
That may be particularly important with Klopp beginning a new chapter with the national team. Rather than dwelling on past Germany-Netherlands encounters, he wants his players to establish their own identity and start his tenure positively.
When asked who would start at right-back and who would be left out of the squad, Klopp got back into the flow of throwing questions back at the reporters asking the questions.
“Can you sleep tonight if you don’t know this? Did Xavi announce his starting lineup? If so, I’d like to have it. Then we can talk about ours too. Let’s wait a bit longer,” Klopp said. “I already know who I’m leaving out, but anything can happen overnight, so I’ll announce it tomorrow. I’ve already spoken to the player, and he’ll be in the squad next time.”
The challenge from the Netherlands will be substantial. Klopp highlighted the depth of talent within the Dutch squad, meaning Germany will need to treat the match with the intensity and focus normally associated with a derby. For Klopp, the rivalry matters most when it translates into the right mentality on the pitch.
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