Klopp not promising silverware ahead of Germany debut

Jurgen Klopp refused to make any promises of delivering silverware for Germany ahead of his debut against the Netherlands in the Nations League. 

Klopp is preparing for his first game in charge at the Johan Cruijff Arena on Thursday after replacing Julian Nagelsmann following Germany's disappointing World Cup campaign. 

Germany were knocked out in the round of 32 at the World Cup after losing on penalties to Paraguay, a defeat which led to Nagelsmann's departure after three years in charge. 

The former Liverpool boss has signed a four-year deal, which will see him guide the team at the European Championship in 2028 and the World Cup two years later. 

Nagelsmann had said following Germany's Euro 2024 quarter-final defeat that he was sad he ​would have to wait two years to lift the World Cup, something that did not come true.

Klopp was also asked about his remark at the ​start of his Liverpool tenure that he would probably have won a title if ​he was still in the job four years later.

"I ​don't want to promise anything," Klopp told a press conference. "What I can say ​is we will try and that's what it is about now. That's where we are at ‌the ⁠moment.

"We have had a little debate, rightly or wrongly, I think, about the impression that we have a lower quality than in other countries.

"This has become the main issue. We need to train better, train differently. But I firmly believe that it is always possible to improve training.

"This not only applies to football, but also to many other areas."

Germany have failed to go beyond the round of 32 in each of the last three editions of the World Cup, going out in the group stage in 2018 and 2022 before this summer's exit. 

They last lifted silverware on the international stage in 2014, when they won the World Cup in Brazil. 

Klopp made the decision to name two separate squads ahead of their Nations League fixtures against the Netherlands, Serbia and Greece, who they play home and away. 

He named 16 uncapped players, with 44 players selected in total. 

"I am in charge of the senior team and my task is ​to take the football there so that we are in ​with a ⁠chance to win every game we play," Klopp added.

"It won't work every day, but we are working at it. I hope we can see some things already tomorrow. We ⁠need to ​take steps and the boys are ready for ​that."

This will be the first meeting between the two nations since October 2024, with Jamie Leweling's 64th-minute strike enough to earn a 1-0 win for Germany. 

Germany are unbeaten in their last three matches against the Netherlands (W2 D1) since a 4-2 defeat in a European Championship qualifier in September 2019. 

"That doesn't mean anything to me, because I've never felt that rivalry," Klopp said of the rivalry between Germany and the Netherlands. 

"It would be better to ask Rudi Voller, as someone who has actually experienced it firsthand. 

"I know what this game means, and ideally, the atmosphere tomorrow night will be heated. It will be a difficult game for the players because the opposition is really good, with tremendous talent and some excellent footballers.

"It's crazy how many top players the Dutch national team has. If we want to have any chance at all, we have to approach it as a real 'derby'. 

"For us, it's the beginning of something. We want to get off to a good start. Everything surrounding the game only plays a minor role."