“Flo Wirtz does not need specific players, Flo Wirtz has to play like that … the way we play suits Flo Wirtz,” Germany national team head coach Jürgen Klopp said after his side’s 2-0 victory against Serbia in the UEFA Nations League, according to a report by sport1.de.
Klopp Dismisses Questions Over Wirtz and Midfield Combinations
The German national coach found himself pushing back against reporter inquiries following the match in Munich on a crisp evening at the Allianz Arena. When pressed about the chemistry between Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz and a defensive midfield pairing consisting of Aleksandar Pavlović and Tom Bischof, Klopp immediately suspected alternative motives from the press corps. The 59-year-old manager noted that the team had just delivered a successful performance, suggesting reporters were attempting to manufacture a controversy where none existed, sport1.de reported.
Klopp explicitly rejected the narrative that Wirtz relies exclusively on specific teammates to perform at his highest level. The matchwinner, who earned a top player rating of 1.5 from sport1.de, also weighed in on the midfield setup. Wirtz remarked that playing alongside Bischof was particularly enjoyable, praising the young midfielder’s spatial awareness and ball control.
Clearing Up the Joshua Kimmich Situation
The line of questioning quickly steered toward Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich, prompting another firm clarification from the Germany boss. Kimmich watched the fixture from the stands in Munich, though the national team captain visited the team dressing room both before and after the game. Klopp had already addressed the media prior to kickoff regarding his captain’s absence from the starting lineup.
Kimmich was left out of the squad alongside several other veterans as part of a deliberate effort by the coaching staff to evaluate a wider pool of players within an expanded XXL squad framework. Dismissing rumors of a disciplinary message or a permanent falling out, Klopp stated that he was simply seeking opportunities to observe alternative personnel. “I can’t sing along to that song,” Klopp said after the final whistle regarding the persistent speculation, sport1.de reported.
Tactical Consistency Amid Roster Rotation
Addressing the broader squad philosophy, Klopp emphasized that tactical continuity takes precedence over static player selections. The coaching staff’s blueprint requires the team to execute a specific style of football regardless of personnel changes forced by injuries or tactical evaluations. While the Pavlović and Bischof axis functioned effectively against Serbia, Klopp made it clear that the side’s tactical identity is not bound to a single midfield pairing.
“The football must remain constant. The lineup cannot remain constant. Mainly because players get injured,” Klopp explained, adding that he does not feel the tactical system depends entirely on the configuration deployed against Serbia, sport1.de reported.
Worth a look
