Jurgen Klopp has moved to clarify the remark that set off a fresh Germany debate, saying his suggestion that Deniz Undav could start ahead of Jamal Musiala was never meant as a swipe at the Bayern Munich star. The former Liverpool manager said the idea was drawn up only to show that Germany had more than one way to shape its attack for the opening clash against Curacao in the 2026 World Cup buildup.
The discussion has travelled quickly because Musiala is not just any player in the argument. He is the one whose place was questioned, and the one whose return to rhythm still carries the shadow of a serious injury suffered during the Club World Cup in the summer of 2025, after which he was sidelined for a lengthy stretch and limited to 24 appearances and five goals across all competitions last season.
Klopp said on Magenta TV that his remarks had been taken out of context. “It has been brought to our attention that it was discussed a bit,” he said, adding that after 25 years dealing with people in leadership roles, “it is important what you say, but much more important is what the person you are saying it to understands.” He also said, “And obviously there were a few misunderstandings - we just have to clear that up. We were asked to make a line-up. We just wanted to show that there are other possibilities, which there must be.”
The row started when Klopp suggested that Stuttgart’s Undav could potentially start ahead of Musiala, with the number 10 role at the heart of the argument. Lothar Matthaus pushed back hard, saying, “He should know better. To play a successful World Cup, Germany needs the quality of a Musiala.” He added that Klopp’s comments “don’t exactly make Nagelsmann’s job any easier,” and said he would like to know how Klopp would react if an expert urged him to bench a regular starter before an important Champions League match.
Klopp insisted the exercise was never criticism, only a search for options. “That was zero point zero meant as criticism,” he said. “Who should we criticise? They haven’t played yet. Neither the coach nor the team. And certainly not Musiala, whom everyone loves, ourselves included.” He said Musiala needs to rediscover trust in his body and his game, adding that “he has had too few games for that.”
That is why the debate has landed so heavily today. Germany is not simply picking between two attackers; it is weighing a player with tournament pedigree against one still rebuilding after a long absence. Matthaus pointed to Musiala’s 42 international caps, nine goals, three World Cup matches and seven Euros matches as proof of his value, while Klopp framed the suggestion as a reminder that lineups can shift. The next question is no longer whether the remark was serious. It is whether Germany’s opening team sheet will keep Musiala in the role many regard as his, or use Undav in the space Klopp was willing to imagine.
