“Stupid”
Suddenly Klopp apologizes to Nagelsmann
Updated June 14, 2026 – 11:22 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
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After the 7-1 win at the start of the World Cup against Curaçao, the long-time successful coach used a conversation to clarify things to the national coach. The reason: a certain word that he had used before.
That was obviously important to Jürgen Klopp. The former star coach, who now works as “Global Head of Soccer” at Red Bull, will be in front of the camera as an expert on Magenta TV during the World Cup. And took the opportunity after the German team’s 7-1 win in the opening game against Curaçao to clarify things – by indirectly apologizing to national coach Julian Nagelsmann.
In the video | Here Curaçao shocks Germany
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He stood with Klopp, his co-expert Thomas Müller and moderator Johannes B. Kerner, analyzed the game before “Kloppo” suddenly said shortly before the end of the conversation: “One more thing, we still have the time,” he began. “I’ve already found the worst word of my year, that’s ‘still’.”
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Reason: Before the opening game, Müller and Klopp presented their desired lineup. Klopp noted that Nagelsmann was “still” fielding the team, he repeated: “still”. Müller replied that Klopp was probably already “in September”. Klopp is repeatedly talked about as the successor to the national coach, but Nagelsmann has a contract until 2028. Among other things, record national player Lothar Matthäus then criticized Klopp’s saying. “That was a statement that, in my opinion, was also unnecessary.”
What’s more: the statements “especially from Jürgen Klopp as one of the most successful coaches we have had in Germany” were “a bit irritating for him so shortly before the start of the World Cup.”
“Hope everyone understands”
Klopp now explained to the national coach: “I could have beaten myself for it, but it was already too late and it was on TV.” And further: “It came out so flippantly that it has no relevance at all. I hope everyone out there understands that.”