Only 27 minutes of action – Coulibaly misses promotion in Klopp's squad

In the light of the floodlights of Stade de la Meinau, Karim Coulibaly stands at the edge of the pitch while the crowd follows the kickoff. Since his summer transfer to France, the former Werder defender has logged only 27 minutes of playing time – seven minutes against Lens, twenty against Troyes and no appearance against Monaco.

Limited playing minutes in France

Coulibaly is not among the 44 players that Jürgen Klopp nominated for his first DFB squad. The centre‑back was considered a candidate beforehand, but the lack of playing experience in France made the selection difficult. As reported by 90min, he remained outside the squad.

Since his move to France, Coulibaly has had little playing experience. Against RC Lens he got seven minutes of action, in Troyes' 6‑2 victory he logged twenty minutes, and in the 1‑1 draw with Monaco he remained completely unused. In total this adds up to only twenty‑seven minutes.

Strasbourg invested €20 million in the summer for the centre‑back after he had attracted attention at Werder Bremen. The high transfer fee sparked hopes of a quick rise into the German national team.

Because of this investment, there was speculation beforehand about a possible call‑up by Jürgen Klopp. Ultimately, however, it was not enough for a place in the squad.

The defender made his debut for the German U21 team in March and could be called upon again there. Thus he retains an international perspective, even though he is absent from the DFB squad.

For the next step, Coulibaly must earn more playing time at Strasbourg, first impress in training and then deliver more consistent performances. A regular start in the team remains his goal.

His brief weeks in France illustrate how quickly the situation can change after a major transfer. The hoped‑for jump into Klopp's first squad has so far not materialised.