Kimmich knows Klopp has a lot to fix with Germany

On 22 September 2026, in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, Joshua Kimmich, the German national team captain, was seen training ahead of their first Nations League match against the Netherlands. Kimmich, a member of the Germany squad, was demonstrating solidarity with his teammate, Jamal Musiala, by carrying him on his back during the training session.

Kimmich has made it clear that Jürgen Klopp’s arrival as the new national team coach will not be enough to fix Germany’s struggles. Since the 2018 World Cup, Germany has consistently underperformed, failing to progress past the group stages in both the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020, as well as falling to Spain in the quarterfinals of Euro 2024.

Kimmich understands the immense responsibility that comes with being Germany’s captain and emphasized that his role involves more than just his individual performances. In an interview with RTL/Sky, as reported by @iMiaSanMia, Kimmich stated, "Performance is always expected, but I expect that of myself as well. It’s also about helping the team get back to where we belong and where the potential and talent mean we can be."

With Germany possessing enough talent to compete at the highest level, the team's failure to translate that talent into consistent results since 2018 has been a source of disappointment. Kimmich recognizes that the challenge now lies in helping Germany return to its previous level and that his captaincy will be central to establishing a new direction for the national team under Klopp.

The past eight years have been disastrous for Germany’s national team, and neither Klopp nor Kimmich can change what has happened. Instead, they must focus on ensuring that Germany’s next chapter stands in stark contrast to its recent history. This, Kimmich believes, requires Germany returning to the level it should have achieved based on its talent and potential.