Jürgen Klopp has officially begun a new chapter in his career after taking charge of the German national team, describing the opportunity as a moment of immense pride and responsibility.
Speaking at his first press conference following his appointment as Germany’s new head coach, Klopp admitted that reaching this position was something he never imagined would happen.
"Knowing where I come from, it was unimaginable for me that it would ever come to this. It's a very special day for me," Klopp said in his introductory press conference today.
The former Liverpool manager also outlined his vision for the role, insisting that his responsibilities will go far beyond what happens on the training pitch. Klopp explained that he wants his coaching staff to create a complete environment around the national team and take responsibility for every aspect of the project.
"As a coaching team, we want to present a complete package. I've never been a coach who just shows up, puts the players through their paces, and then goes home when training is over.
"I've always taken care of things that happen at the club. Now it's a federation, now it's a country. (…) I feel a responsibility to everyone who's a football fan in this country," he added.
Klopp then turned his attention to the expectations surrounding Germany, acknowledging the challenges facing the four-time world champions while making it clear that he believes the team can compete with the strongest nations despite not currently being at the top of world football.
"The 59-year-old swiftly moved onto managing expectations for the four-time world champions and how he won't hesitate to leave if the public perception feels he's not doing enough."
"Success is how you perform in relation to the expectations. When we ask in Germany: are we as good as France? And the answer is no, that's not true.
"The question should be: do we have players like: Dembélé, Mbappé, Doué, Barcola? The answer is no. But we still can beat them. It's not important to look at France, Spain, Argentina.
"We must look ourselves and how we play football. We aren't number one in the world at the moment. There are 11 nations ahead of us in the ranking - but we have to make beating them possible, with the way we play football".
The new Germany boss also addressed his relationship with the public, the German Football Association (DFB), and the level of accountability he expects to carry throughout his tenure. Klopp insisted that he would accept criticism and step away if he ever loses the support needed to continue the job.
"The day you don't want me anymore, I'm gone - without any severance pay. If you say tomorrow that he's rubbish, I'm gone. Not just one person, it would have to be more than that.
"If the DFB says he's rubbish, I'm gone. If you behave badly and don't leave my family in peace, I'm gone. Criticize me if something doesn't work.
"I'm happy to work on it. It's all about the job. Jürgen Klopp doesn't have a career after the national team. Ideally, this is the highlight of my career," he concluded.
