Klopp wants Germany's football team to 'reclaim the flag'

Frankfurt, September 17 — Jurgen Klopp, the newly appointed Germany manager, cautioned against allowing far-right groups to claim ownership of national pride following the recent far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) election victory. In a press conference at Frankfurt, Klopp emphasized the importance of ensuring that national pride is not entrusted to the "wrong people."

The AfD party won almost 44% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, a former East German state, and is expected to perform well in upcoming elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Klopp, who took over as Germany manager in July, has previously advocated for "positive patriotism" and has been vocal about social issues. He called for the reclaiming of the national flag "for myself and for us," stating that when the team waves the flag, he wants people to think they are "happy and understand how lucky you are to be born in this wonderful country or to have moved here and live here."

Topics related to patriotism and nationalism are sensitive in Germany, a country still grappling with its dark history of Nazi rule, World War II, and the Holocaust. Klopp expressed uncertainty about whether the term "national pride" can still be used without being misunderstood. He stressed that being proud of being German does not preclude being open, diverse, kind, and friendly.

Klopp also noted the importance of football in fostering a sense of community and enabling people to truly feel the power of sport. The coach took an unusual step by naming a 44-man squad for four upcoming Nations League matches, despite matchday lists typically being restricted to 23 players. He aimed to get to know as many players as possible before the matches.

Klopp's nine-year tenure at Liverpool was marked by significant success, including winning the Champions League and Premier League.