Thomas Müller counters criticism from Effenberg and Möller

After the Nagelsmann controversy

Müller reacts to criticism: “We won’t let ourselves be bent”

Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Müller sparked criticism with a comment about a possible end to Julian Nagelsmann as national coach. Now Müller answers.

Thomas Müller has responded to the harsh criticism of him and Jürgen Klopp. “Of course we noticed,” said the ex-national player during the broadcast of the DFB’s start to the World Cup on MagentaTV. Müller and Klopp had joked in a previous broadcast about a possible end to Julian Nagelsmann as national coach.

Klopp had said in front of the camera when talking to Müller about the possible German line-up against Curaçao: “Fortunately, Julian Nagelsmann is putting the team together – for now.” Müller had laughed at the saying and added: “Kloppo. It’s June. You’re already in September.”

There was then a lot of criticism of the two of them. “I think that doesn’t work. I find a sentence like that disrespectful,” said Andreas Möller in the “double pass”. “We know what will be made of it. That’s a no-go.”

Möller continued: “If Klopp were the national coach – and things like that were going on in the background, he wouldn’t be amused either,” he said. Ex-national player and t-online columnist Effenberg joined him, but above all he criticized Klopp for one thing: “That’s not possible, he’s speaking in front of an audience of millions. He’s also laughing at the back,” said the 57-year-old Effenberg.

He could say something like that “with a beer at the bar when you’re alone. But not in front of an audience of millions, that’s an absolute no-go.” Klopp is getting Nagelsmann “in trouble. Nagelsmann doesn’t know how to answer that,” said Effenberg.

Müller now justified his saying: “I can only say the following: Of course we discuss passionately. So for us it’s mainly about conveying the enthusiasm,” he said. “We are huge fans of the team and of course the tournament. Well, that’s how it is for me. We discuss tactics, content and, above all, objectively when it comes to sport,” he clarified, but then qualified: “But for both of us, who can blame us, there is always a bit of insult involved and of course something can slip out that can cause populist waves if you want to use it in a populist way.”