
Jurgen Klopp didn't wait long to have his first clash with the German media as national team coach. In his first team news conference, the 59-year-old coach reacted sharply to the leak of information about the list of invited players.
Klopp released a comprehensive list of 44 players, including 16 players who are receiving their first call-up to Germany. However, some of the names had been leaked to the media before the official announcement, something that irritated the coach.
"Kloppy-leaks" has become one of the main topics in recent days in Germany, while Klopp did not hide his dissatisfaction at all. He described the list leak as a "pathetic" act, arguing that it damages the process and the way he wants to build the relationship with the players and the national team.
Germany's new coach has taken a broad approach to his debut, testing a large number of players ahead of the upcoming Nations League matches. Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are among the notable names, while several other well-known players have been left out of the list.
But the tension with the media is not the only strong message from Klopp in his first press conference. He also spoke about how he wants the national team to represent an open and inclusive Germany, declaring that national pride should not be left to the "wrong people".
Klopp stressed that he wants to restore a form of "positive patriotism", where love of country is linked to openness, diversity and respect. The statements came at a time of intense political debate in Germany, following the electoral rise of the AfD.
In this way, Klopp's adventure on the Germany bench has begun with a clear message: he wants control over how the team functions, but also over the communication around it. And the first clash with the media has come much sooner than expected.