National team coach Jürgen Klopp has addressed the goalkeeper question for the upcoming international matches against Serbia and the Netherlands. Despite strong competition from Alexander Nübel and Jonas Urbig, the 59-year-old continues to rely on Marc-André ter Stegen. The experienced goalkeeper is also expected to start in the last two international matches of the year.
During the presentation of his new 24-man roster, Klopp made it clear that the decision in favor of the Ajax Amsterdam goalkeeper is not based solely on his current form. Rather, experience, consistency, and the demands of the goalkeeper’s role play a decisive role.
The national team coach expressed overall satisfaction with the development of his goalkeepers. In addition to ter Stegen, Nübel and Urbig have also delivered convincing performances recently. Nevertheless, the pecking order remains unchanged for the time being.
Klopp explains: This is why ter Stegen is ahead of Urbig and Nübel
“Marc ter Stegen is going into these games as the number one,” Klopp clarified in an interview with the DFB.
The national team coach justified his decision primarily by citing the importance of consistency and experience. “It’s not about who’s playing better right now,” Klopp emphasized. With goalkeepers, he said, it’s much more about the sense of stability they must project.
In addition to traditional skills on the goal line, the former Liverpool coach places particular emphasis on the goalkeeper’s ability to play the ball. Especially for a team that defends high up the field and wants to dictate the pace of the game, the goalkeeper plays a central role.
Klopp pointed to the ability to influence the team’s build-up play and to recognize dangerous situations early on behind a high defensive line. In these areas, he currently sees ter Stegen as having the edge due to his experience.
Urbig and Nübel are putting pressure on ter Stegen
For Bayern goalkeeper Jonas Urbig, the decision means he will have to settle for a role behind ter Stegen for the time being. However, the young goalkeeper is once again part of the squad and thus remains an integral part of Klopp’s plans.
The current decision should therefore by no means be interpreted as a fundamental rejection of Urbig. Rather, Klopp is relying on ter Stegen’s experience for the upcoming matches, while Urbig continues to have the opportunity to prove himself within the national team.
The Bayern goalkeeper’s prospects with the DFB team thus remain intact. However, this does not change the clear division of roles for the two upcoming international matches.