Matthaüs hits out at Müller and Klopp's plea for Undav to start Curaçao game | OneFootball

During a World Cup broadcast on Magenta TV, Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Müller put together their ideal Germany lineup for Sunday, picking Deniz Undav instead of Jamal Musiala.

The idea was that Musiala could be substituted on later against the tired legs of Curaçao to help spaces open up – safe to say Lothar Matthäus was is clearly against this notion.

“I was very surprised when I saw that Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Müller advised playing Deniz Undav instead of Jamal Musiala in the opening match," Matthaüs told BILD.

"I accept their opinion, but I don't want to let it stand. I feel it lacks sensitivity. Jürgen Klopp, of all people, should know better. To have a successful World Cup, Germany needs the quality of Musiala.

"That's why he needs to be given trust and playing time. Klopp's comments aren't exactly making Nagelsmann's job any easier. I'd like to see what Klopp would have said if a pundit had advised him to bench one of his regular starters before an important Champions League match.

“Such interference isn't well received, especially among fellow coaches. We all know that Musiala isn't yet at his best. But instead of creating unrest around him, we should be supporting him,” he said

The 1990 FIFA World Cup winner also took aim at ex-Bayern Munich star Thomas Müller, questioning why someone with his level of experience would speak out against a former teammate.

"I also found it somewhat odd how Thomas Müller was talking about Jamal Musiala, his former teammate with whom he has recently been playing. I'm a TV pundit myself and I know that criticism is part of the job.

“But not a single minute of the World Cup has been played yet, and already this kind of discussion is being started. And especially now, when Musiala showed improving form in the second half against the USA,” he concluded.