Jurgen Klopp hits out at German media over squad leak

Jurgen Klopp has made an unconventional start to his tenure as Germany manager, sparking a confrontation with the media during his first press conference. The former Liverpool boss took aim at journalists for leaking details of his 44-man squad before the official announcement, specifically regarding the surprise call-up of 23-year-old Elversberg midfielder Felix Keidel.

Klopp revealed he had discussed the incident with the young player, noting that the leak turned his first call-up into a chaotic experience. While insisting he was personally unfazed by the timing, Klopp did not hold back on his opinion of the industry practice.

I just think it's a bit pathetic to make a living by putting things out there earlier than people actually need to know them.Jurgen Klopp

The unusually large 44-man roster is a tactical choice by Klopp, who is looking to evaluate his options thoroughly following Germany's disappointing World Cup campaign, which ended with a round of 32 exit to Paraguay. The squad has been split into two groups to manage a demanding schedule of four Nations League fixtures in just three weeks.

Key players like Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala are designated for the first two fixtures, while Florian Wirtz will join the group for the latter stages of the camp. Notably, Stuttgart striker Deniz Undav, who was the national team's top scorer at the recent World Cup, has been excluded from this selection.

Klopp, who returned to the dugout after overseeing Red Bull's football operations, emphasised that the bloated squad is necessary to get to know as many players as possible quickly. The process begins with a challenging Nations League away fixture against the Netherlands on September 24.