“Germany needs Musiala!”: Matthäus clearly disagrees with Klopp and Müller | OneFootball

The debate surrounding Jamal Musiala is gaining momentum just before the German national team’s World Cup opener. After Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Müller publicly advocated for Deniz Undav to start, Lothar Matthäus has now clearly sided with the Bayern star. The record-holding national team player considers the debate problematic—and is particularly critical of Klopp in unusually sharp terms.

Jamal Musiala is one of the most talked-about players on the German World Cup squad. Since his return from a serious injury, every performance by the attacking player has been closely analyzed. Although the 23-year-old has repeatedly demonstrated his exceptional talent recently, questions about his peak form continue to linger.

For Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Müller, this was apparently reason enough to consider alternatives.

Matthäus clearly stands behind Musiala

During World Cup coverage on MagentaTV, Klopp and Müller had suggested starting Deniz Undav behind Kai Havertz in the opening match against Curaçao and bringing Musiala on as a substitute initially.

A suggestion that Matthäus finds hard to understand. “I was very surprised when I read that Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Müller recommended using Deniz Undav instead of Jamal Musiala in the opening match. I respect their opinion, but I can’t just accept it. I find it insensitive,” Matthäus told BILD.

For the former World Player of the Year, there is no question that Germany will rely on Musiala in this World Cup.

Matthäus’s stance aligns with the current plans of national team coach Julian Nagelsmann.

According to BILD, Musiala is considered a lock for the World Cup opener. In all training sessions over the past few days, the Bayern pro has been part of the supposed starting lineup and has consistently been slotted in as the central creative force.

Nagelsmann is taking a clear approach: Musiala should continue to find his rhythm through playing time and trust.

This is exactly the point Matthäus emphasizes. “For a successful World Cup, Germany needs Musiala’s quality. That’s why you have to trust him and give him playing time,” the 64-year-old stressed.

Criticism directed specifically at Klopp

Photo: Getty Images

The sharpness of his remarks directed at Jürgen Klopp was particularly surprising.

Matthäus expressed irritation that a coach of Klopp’s stature, of all people, would publicly initiate such a discussion. “Jürgen Klopp, of all people, should know better,” Matthäus explained, pointing out how sensitively coaches typically react to outside interference.

In his view, such debates unnecessarily complicate the national team coach’s work. “Klopp’s comments don’t exactly make Nagelsmann’s job any easier,” said Matthäus.

Even Thomas Müller was not spared from the criticism.

The longtime Bayern pro had explicitly praised Undav and recommended his selection. For Matthäus, what was particularly noteworthy was the fact that Müller was publicly discussing a longtime teammate.

“I also found it a bit strange how Thomas Müller spoke about Jamal Musiala, his former teammate with whom he most recently played,” explained the record-holding national team player.

On Saturday evening, Klopp responded to the ensuing discussion and sought to clarify the situation.

There had “obviously been a few misunderstandings.” His comments were by no means intended as criticism of Musiala. “That was absolutely not meant as criticism,” Klopp clarified. It wasn’t about taking Musiala out of the team, but simply pointing out the available alternatives.

Klopp had nothing but positive things to say about the Bayern star himself: “Musiala, whom we all love.”