Joshua Kimmich would have liked to stay with the German national team longer. After the 0-1 loss to Greece, the captain himself stated that he had hoped until the very end to remain at the DFB training camp. National team coach Jürgen Klopp, however, stuck to his original plan.
Kimmich is not part of the second squad with which Klopp will play the Nations League matches against Serbia and, once again, Greece. The Bayern player therefore had to leave—even though he had apparently asked several times to be allowed to stay with the team.
In an interview with BR24Sport, Klopp has now explained in more detail why he did not want to make an exception for Kimmich. Performance-related reasons, he said, played no role in the decision.
“He actually asked a few times.”
“He actually asked a few times,” Klopp revealed, referring to Kimmich’s wish to remain with the DFB squad. The national team coach responded with a wink: “But I can tell Jo that the more often you ask, the less likely you are to get what you want.”
At the same time, Klopp made it clear that he is completely satisfied with his captain. Kimmich has made a “great impression” and is “a great captain.” Nevertheless, the 59-year-old wanted to stick to his unusual two-squad model.
The national team coach deliberately wants to see how his team performs without established leaders. “I want to see these guys in action when the top players aren’t there,” Klopp explained. Another reason is to prepare for situations in which key players might be absent due to injuries or other reasons.
Klopp Orders Kimmich to Take a Family Vacation
His exclusion is therefore explicitly not intended as a disciplinary measure against Kimmich. Rather, Klopp wants to give as many players as possible the opportunity to prove themselves under competitive conditions. “We simply have to be prepared for all eventualities and want to give everyone the platform they deserve,” emphasized the national team coach.
For Kimmich, this means an unusual break. Klopp took the situation in stride: “That’s why the Kimmich family is now on a family vacation. I hope he actually takes it, to be honest.”
The 31-year-old had already made it clear that he himself would have preferred to stay with the DFB. “I had hoped until the very end that I could stay, and of course I would have liked to stay. But I understand that the coach simply wants to get to know other players,” Kimmich explained after the match against Greece.
In the match against Serbia, the national team will now have to do without its regular captain. Kimmich’s Bayern teammate Serge Gnabry is considered a possible replacement. Klopp had initially left the final decision on the captain’s armband open.