Oliver Kahn criticizes Jürgen Klopp’s handling of Jonas Urbig. The former Bayern boss considers the national team coach’s reasoning to be problematic.
Jonas Urbig has drawn attention to himself with two strong performances for the German national team. In the 2-0 win over Serbia and the 0-0 draw in Greece, the FC Bayern goalkeeper kept a clean sheet in both matches. Nevertheless, Jürgen Klopp’s handling of the 23-year-old is now drawing criticism.
Oliver Kahn is particularly bothered by the national team coach’s reasoning that he wants to give Urbig playing time. “I don’t think the national team is there to give anyone playing time,” the former DFB captain said on Sky/RTL.
Kahn added: “I think that was a bit unfortunate. If someone needs playing time, then I would have liked to give it to the person who, according to Jürgen Klopp, is at least the number one right now: Marc ter Stegen. That would have made more sense to me.”
Kahn sees an open question regarding the DFB’s goalkeeper situation
Before the match against Greece, Klopp had explained that, unlike the other nominated goalkeepers, Urbig does not play regularly for his club and should therefore be given another opportunity to play.
On the field, Urbig made impressive use of his opportunity. The Bayern Munich goalkeeper kept a clean sheet in each of his first two international matches, thereby making DFB history.
Nevertheless, Kahn is sticking with Marc-André ter Stegen as the current number one, though he does not view his position as unassailable. The veteran from Ajax Amsterdam possesses “extremely important” experience at the highest level, but has not always been entirely convincing in the DFB goal.
This keeps the goalkeeper situation under Klopp intriguing. While Urbig remains the number two at FC Bayern behind Manuel Neuer, he has clearly established himself as a key player on the national team.