Jürgen Klopp is the new head coach of the German national team and has already made his competitive debut as coach of the German national team. In the 1-1 draw against the Netherlands in Amsterdam, some things already went quite well.
Several Bayern players were also on the roster, including Jonathan Tah. The defender had not previously worked with Klopp, so he was all the more eager to see how the new coach of the German national team operates.
And Tah’s first impressions of Klopp are thoroughly positive. The defender explained this at the German team’s press conference ahead of the match against Greece.
Tah talks about Klopp’s inaugural speech
The first team meeting under the new national team coach was reportedly particularly intense. “I think when we had that initial meeting, everyone walked out afterward thinking, ‘Okay, we’re going to go through fire together now.’”
Tah has already gathered many impressions and has a good feeling about Klopp: “You can feel the positive energy that the coach and the coaching staff bring to the table.” He says the mix of fun and seriousness is important—and the coach clearly leads by example.
So the Bayern defender is optimistic that things are heading in the right direction under Klopp. Of course, there’s no guarantee. And ultimately, it’s the players who have to perform and put into practice what the coach lays out. One Bayern star had an unfortunate moment against the Netherlands: Serge Gnabry, who made a mistake leading up to the goal they conceded. He faced criticism for that.
Tah also clearly shifted the responsibility toward the players in general: “At the end of the day, we’re still the ones on the field, and we players have to execute what the coach demands of us. We’re the ones who have to deliver.”
With the new energy Klopp is breathing into the team, however, that should be achievable. The start was already quite solid; now the German team, with Tah, naturally wants to build on that.