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Jamal Musiala has shared that he paid little attention to the calls made by Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Müller, who suggested that Deniz Undav should start in his place for Germany’s Group E opener against Curaçao.

“Believe me, I don’t read or watch anything the pundits say,” Musiala said in an interview with BILD ahead of Germany’s next Group E fixture against the Ivory Coast.

“I can easily imagine what’s being said; after all, I’ve been in football long enough to know. But I deliberately keep my distance from those opinions or comments about me. My focus is entirely on myself,” he explained.

“For me, the most important thing is to keep a clear mind. That’s when I feel fresh on the pitch. Julian tells me everything I need to know to do my job well on the field,” he added.

Reflecting on the injury issues he faced during the 2025–26 season, the 23-year-old midfielder stated that dealing with such challenges is simply “part of being a footballer.”

“The recovery journey took a lot of hard work and patience. It wasn’t easy at times, but I’ve learned that even when things are tough, you have to stay focused on the positives, even if that’s not always simple,” Musiala noted.

“This year has been the biggest learning experience for me. It’s not only about football—I’ve grown as a person too. Coming back from a serious injury like mine takes patience, but once you make that comeback, the next step feels even bigger. That’s how I see it,” he said.

Following Germany’s victory over Curaçao, the Bayern Munich star believes the upcoming clash against the Ivory Coast on Saturday evening will be a sterner test.

“I think my role in our game will stay largely the same. The difference is that Ivory Coast have a stronger offensive setup, so I’ll need to contribute more defensively and bring extra energy,” he explained.

“But I’ve started to really enjoy that side of the game—winning the ball back feels great. Up front, we must make the most of our chances. If we play the way we did against Curaçao, we’ll create enough opportunities,” he concluded.