Joshua Kimmich Urges Quick Improvement as Germany Falter in Klopp’s Tactical Debut Against Greece
Joshua Kimmich has urged his teammates to speed up their adaptation after Germany suffered a surprising 1-0 defeat against Greece in the UEFA Nations League. The match marked Jurgen Klopp's first home game in charge, but the team struggled to adjust to his high-intensity style.
Kimmich Reflects on Germany’s Challenging Transition
After the loss at the WWK Arena, Kimmich was straightforward about the national team's current difficulties. Instead of showing progress under Klopp, Die Mannschaft appeared disconnected and lacked the creativity needed to break through Greece’s solid defense. The Bayern Munich midfielder acknowledged the tactical shift is tough but stressed that the players must own their shortcomings in attack.
"We need to improve in every area. We need to understand the coach's ideas even better. I think what he's suggesting is very good and will help us. Now it's up to us to implement it. He's very clear about what he wants," Kimmich told ARD.
Struggles with Creativity and Tactics
Despite the anticipation surrounding Klopp’s debut at home, Germany looked out of sync and lacked the sharpness to overcome a deep defensive line. The only goal came from a deflected shot by Dimitrios Kourbelis, which caught goalkeeper Alexander Nubel off guard—an outcome Kimmich found especially unfortunate since he inadvertently redirected the ball.
"It certainly wasn't a good performance from us. It's unfortunate that we lost it late on; I don't think that was necessary. We didn't create many scoring chances and struggled against their deep defense. The goalkeeper also made one or two good saves. With a bit of luck, we could have scored, but overall, we were too static and lacked creativity. We didn't move enough and didn't come up with enough ideas. A 0-0 draw would have been deserved, so losing it is very unfortunate," Kimmich explained.
Distinguishing Klopp’s Approach From Nagelsmann’s Era
The match reminded some of the problems Germany faced during their World Cup exit under Julian Nagelsmann, but Kimmich rejected the idea that old mistakes are repeating. He emphasized that Klopp’s philosophy is different, even if the results don’t yet show it. The captain believes the current system offers a stronger platform for future success despite recent setbacks.
"I wouldn't say that. It's a different way of playing. I don't think we had that many turnovers or got caught on counter-attacks that often. The opponent sat very deep and relied more on long balls. Nevertheless, we weren't creative enough as a team going forward," Kimmich said.
Kimmich to Miss Upcoming Matches
Joshua Kimmich will be absent from the upcoming fixtures against Serbia and the return match against Greece. Klopp plans to rotate the squad and test other players in the talent pool. His absence leaves a gap in leadership that others must fill as Germany seeks to recover from this unexpected defeat. Meanwhile, Kimmich will focus on club duties while the team tries to claim its first victory under Klopp without him.
UEFA Nations League A:
- Germany (GER) vs Serbia (SER) - 1 Oct 2026, 21:45
- Greece (GRE) vs Netherlands (NED) - 1 Oct 2026, 21:45
