Kahn warns against overblown Klopp hype and lack of system
In the programme “RTL/Sky Sport” the 57‑year‑old DFB legend Oliver Kahn criticised the hype around Jürgen Klopp, who after only four games as national team coach is already being celebrated as the saviour of the German national team. Kahn considers the expectations completely exaggerated in the public debate.
Systemic deficit in German football
Kahn points out that in German football there is no unified system that can be continuously further developed. He said: “I believe we have not managed in German football to establish and build a system comparable to the one we see in Spain.”
According to Kahn, the DFB lacks a reliable foundation; instead, after sporting setbacks the coach is repeatedly seen as the weakest link and replaced, in the hope of changing something. “In essence we have not changed anything at all,” emphasized the 57‑year‑old.
Criticism of coach‑centricity
Kahn is particularly annoyed that after every sporting defeat the national team coach is placed in the spotlight and the fundamental problems of German football are neglected. For him, it is too short‑sighted to attribute the sporting development solely to the person of the coach.
Although the DFB has hired Jürgen Klopp after Julian Nagelsmann as a coach who is supposed to bring new ideas, Kahn considers the assumption that this will automatically lead to a return to the world elite to be wrong. He does not see talent as the main problem, but criticises the over‑optimisation of young players.
“We have over‑trained. We have over‑optimised the players and completely forgotten that you must not take everything away from young people,” explained Kahn, who himself was the national team goalkeeper for a long time.
According to Kahn, the expectation that a few changes by a new coach can immediately deliver sustainable success cannot be met. “We now believe that with a new coach who does a few things differently, we will be successful again. In my view that is completely absurd,” he summed up.