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Jurgen Klopp has issued a clarification regarding his recent comments about Jamal Musiala, after his tactical suggestion stirred significant debate in Germany. The former Liverpool manager had proposed that Deniz Undav might be a more suitable option for the starting line-up in certain scenarios, which led football legend Lothar Matthaus to question his reasoning.

Klopp explains his comments on Musiala

While working as a pundit for the 2026 World Cup, Klopp found himself in the middle of a heated discussion following an experimental team selection segment. Partnering with Thomas Muller, the ex-Liverpool boss suggested that Stuttgart forward Deniz Undav could start ahead of Bayern Munich’s Musiala for Germany’s opening match against Curacao.

Addressing the criticism on Magenta TV, Klopp explained that his remarks had been misunderstood. He said, “It’s been brought to our attention that it was discussed quite a bit. I’ve worked in leadership roles for 25 years, and while what you say is important, what matters even more is how the person you’re speaking to interprets it.”

Matthaus reacts strongly

The tension escalated when Matthaus openly criticised Klopp and Muller in the media. He argued that Musiala’s individual brilliance is vital for Germany’s success, especially given the youngster’s impressive record — 42 international caps, nine goals, and appearances in three World Cup and seven European Championship matches. Matthaus expressed disbelief at the notion of leaving Musiala out of the starting eleven.

“[Klopp] should know better. To succeed at a World Cup, Germany needs Musiala’s quality,” Matthaus said. “His comments don’t make Nagelsmann’s job easier. I’d be curious to see how Klopp would react if someone advised him to bench one of his regular starters before a key Champions League match. That kind of input isn’t well received, particularly among coaches.”

Klopp insists no disrespect intended

Klopp maintained that his comments were purely tactical and carried no negative intent. “Obviously, there were a few misunderstandings — we just need to clarify that. We were asked to create a line-up. Our goal was simply to show that there are alternative options, as there always should be,” he explained. He stressed that the exercise aimed to highlight squad depth rather than question Musiala’s importance or talent.

No criticism whatsoever

Klopp reiterated that his analysis was not meant as criticism of any player or the national setup. He praised Musiala’s qualities but also pointed out that the youngster has had limited game time recently due to an injury sustained during the Club World Cup in the summer of 2025. That setback kept him sidelined for an extended period, restricting him to just 24 appearances and five goals across all competitions last season — something that could affect his rhythm early in the tournament.

“That was zero point zero meant as criticism. Who would we criticise? The team hasn’t even played yet — neither the coach nor the players, and certainly not Musiala, whom everyone admires, including us,” Klopp clarified. “We want the boy to quickly regain his confidence and trust in himself. Naturally, that takes time after missing so many matches.”

Balancing act for Germany

While Klopp’s suggestion implied that Undav might feature in the ‘number 10’ position, he emphasised that Musiala’s fitness and development remain paramount. The former Borussia Dortmund coach noted that the demands of the modern World Cup — especially this first-ever 48-team edition, where Germany faces Curacao, Ivory Coast, and Ecuador in Group E — will require squad rotation, regardless of a player’s star status.

“Of course, we all want Musiala to play, but he can’t play every minute of every match. He needs to grow into the tournament,” Klopp concluded. Earlier, he had justified his choice by saying, “We brought Undav into the game because he can play in the number 10 role.”

All eyes will now be on Julian Nagelsmann as he looks to balance Germany’s attacking options in pursuit of World Cup glory.

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