Former Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn has publicly questioned national team coach Jürgen Klopp’s decision-making regarding the position between the goalposts.
Oliver Kahn Questions Jürgen Klopp Over Goalkeeper Selection
The debate centers on the DFB squad’s recent autumn fixtures. Bundestrainer Jürgen Klopp deployed Jonas Urbig as a starter in both recent matches—a 2–0 victory over Serbia and a scoreless draw away against Greece. The two appearances marked the 23-year-old’s first senior international caps. Urbig kept clean sheets in both outings.
Despite the positive defensive results, the strategy drew sharp criticism from Oliver Kahn. The former national team captain and long-time Bayern Munich stalwart argued that international duty should not serve as a vehicle to manufacture playing time for players who lack regular club minutes. Urbig currently operates as the backup to Manuel Neuer at club level in Munich.
“I don’t think the national team is there to provide anyone with playing time,” Kahn stated during his appearance on Sky and RTL. “I think that was somewhat unfortunate.”
Jürgen Klopp Defends Giving Jonas Urbig Valuable Minutes
Jürgen Klopp addressed his selection rationale directly following the fixtures, pointing to the disparity in club action between his called-up goalkeepers. The national team boss explained that while the majority of his five nominated keepers feature regularly for their respective clubs, Urbig does not enjoy that same weekly rhythm in Munich.
“The other guys who were here, they all play regularly, and Jonas hasn’t done that, so that’s why he gets the match,” Klopp said in defense of his selection policy.
Kahn countered that if any goalkeeper required competitive minutes to maintain sharpness, priority ought to have been given to the player whom Klopp has designated as the team’s current primary option. “If someone needs playing time, I would have gladly given it to the person who, according to Jürgen Klopp, is at least currently number one: Marc-André ter Stegen,” Kahn remarked. “From my perspective, that would have made more sense.”
Marc-André ter Stegen Faces Lingering Uncertainty in Goal
The controversy shines a light on Marc-André ter Stegen’s turbulent and lengthy career with the German national team.
Ter Stegen’s DFB timeline has long been defined by obstacles. He spent years playing in the shadow of Manuel Neuer before suffering a series of injuries that repeatedly derailed his international momentum. While Kahn acknowledged that the veteran keeper possesses “extremely important” experience at the very highest level, he also pointed to past vulnerabilities.
“It is also true that he hasn’t always been one hundred percent convincing in his international matches,” Kahn noted. “There were repeatedly games where you had the feeling that the ultimate security was lacking and he also made one or two mistakes.” Consequently, Kahn concluded that ter Stegen cannot currently feel completely secure in his standing as Germany’s undisputed number one.
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