‘I’ve seen how you’ve treated Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel – if you don’t leave my family alone, I’ll quit’ – New Germany boss Jurgen Klopp fires warning to media
Jurgen Klopp has warned the German media that he is more than ready to walk away from the national team job if they subject him to the kind of treatment they gave his predecessor Julian Nagelsmann.
The former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool boss has returned to management as Germany head coach two years on from departing Anfield.
In the interim, Klopp has served as head of global football for Red Bull, leading to understandable scepticism in Germany about his appointment to his latest role, given Red Bull’s unpopularity in the country following the foundation of RB Leipzig in 2009.
Just like the English media towards their own Three Lions boss, the German media can be brutal towards Die Mannschaft’s head coach, with Bild particularly renowned for going after managers whose methods they don’t prefer.
And despite signing a four-year deal with the DfB, Klopp has warned that he will walk away from the post if the media get too personal.
Speaking at his first press conference, Klopp said: “If you behave badly and don’t leave my family in peace then I’ll be gone, I’ll just turn away.
“I know there are other countries where national team coaches are treated even worse.
“I’m not doing this job for myself, I’m doing it for you. I’m taking this job even though I’ve seen how you’ve treated [former Germany boss] Julian Nagelsmann and [England manager] Thomas Tuchel.
“I love this job but I am always ready to call it quits if need be.”
Klopp did hint that this role may well be his last in football, however, feeling that becoming the head coach of his country leaves him with no more mountains to climb.
He said: “Jurgen Klopp is not going to have any career after the national team.
“This is the pinnacle, the absolutely high point of my footballing career as coach. I will give everything I have got.
“Over the last few days it has almost been like a movie happening to myself.
“I have always thought the job of Germany head coach is really big, but now it is really dawning on me what being the national team head coach is all about.
“For many, many years it was unimaginable for me to take on this role. As the years went by, it became more or less evident that sooner or later I would be asked to do this job. Now I think the time is right.”
