“National coach or pundit?” Kahn surprised by Klopp's Bayern analysis
Klopp told DAZN he had not understood what Bayern do without the ball. Kahn called for collegiality, Kompany stayed silent and Söder praised his restraint.
Archive image · Photo: Olaf Kosinsky / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 de (cropped and resized)
Germany coach Jürgen Klopp's comments on Bayern Munich's defensive approach continue to cause debate. At half-time of Bayern's 2-2 Champions League draw with Arsenal on Wednesday, Klopp told DAZN he still had not fully understood what Bayern do without the ball. On Harry Kane's role he said it was fine with the ball, “but against the ball?”. At the same time he stressed that he was not “the pope of football” and everyone was free to do as they wished.
Former Germany goalkeeper and ex-Bayern chief executive Oliver Kahn said on the talk show “Triple – der Hagedorn Fußballtalk” that he first had to think about whether Klopp was the national coach or still a football pundit. It was “also a bit about collegiality among coaches”, Kahn said according to dpa and SPORT1, adding that he was surprised because one does not normally hear such things from a national coach.
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany declined to comment after the match: “I'm not saying anything about that. Next question.” Bavarian Premier Markus Söder described that restraint as the “perfect” reaction, according to Abendzeitung; Klopp's words were not that bad, but the national coach and Bayern should get on well.