Jürgen Klopp playful and confident ahead of Greece rematch: “Without Otto Rehhagel…”

Jürgen Klopp playful and confident ahead of Greece rematch: “Without Otto Rehhagel…” Jürgen Klopp and Aleksandar Pavlovic appeared to be enjoying themselves rather a lot at Saturday’s pre-match press conference ahead of Germany’s Nations League clash with Greece. The footballing business remained serious enough. Germany arrive in Thessaloniki seeking revenge for their recent home defeat to Greece , while Klopp continues to assess a heavily rotated squad and an increasingly competitive midfield. The atmosphere in the press room, however, occasionally drifted somewhere closer to a variety show. Klopp joked with Pavlovic, teased the assembled journalists, playfully dragged the Greek translator sitting to his right into an exchange over Otto Rehhagel, and repeatedly complimented the translator before helping ensure she received a round of applause at the end. The whole thing became particularly entertaining once somebody mentioned Greece’s famous Euro 2004 triumph. Pavlovic confronted with ancient history One journalist asked Pavlovic how the current Greece team differed from the side that won the European Championship under Otto Rehhagel in 2004. There was one small problem. Pavlovic was born in 2004. “I was born that year,” the 22-year-old replied with a laugh. The journalist then tried to qualify the question by asking if Pavlovic had perhaps watched some old highlights on YouTube. Klopp found the whole notion very amusing from the start. The Bundestrainer then rescued his midfielder from the history examination and attempted the comparison himself. “From my perspective — not that I know every team from the last 20 years in such detail — this could be a golden generation,” Klopp said. “They can all play, they all have pace, they all score goals.” Klopp also drew a distinction with Rehhagel’s European champions. The 2004 side, in his view, operated at an extraordinarily high defensive and tactical level. The current generation instead boasts a collection of players blessed with technique, speed and goalscoring ability. “I don’t know whether we need to compare them [the two Greek sides],” Klopp continued. “This is simply a good team.” So far, perfectly respectable football analysis. Then Klopp abandoned all pretense of keeping things serious. “Without Otto, that wouldn’t have happened…” Reflecting upon Greece’s 2004 triumph, Klopp suddenly launched into a short tribute to Rehhagel. “Without Otto, that wouldn’t have happened…” The reference was naturally to the German coach who masterminded Greece’s extraordinary European Championship victory. Klopp then decided his own rendition apparently wasn’t enough. He turned toward the translator and encouraged her to tell everyone that he was gleefully singing the praises of the famous German coach. She declined. Probably wisely. The translator had already drawn repeated compliments from Klopp during the press conference for her work, and the Bundestrainer seemed determined to keep her involved in proceedings whether she wanted to become part of the entertainment or not. Before Klopp and Pavlovic left the stage, the room offered the translator a special round of appreciation after Klopp had repeatedly praised her throughout the session. The 10,000 plus individuals who watched the presser live online will surely be inclined to agree. Pavlovic apparently cannot talk himself out of the team The mood remained similarly playful when Klopp was asked whether he intended to maintain an apparent tradition of starting the player seated next to him at the pre-match press conference. Pavlovic was, of course, the player sitting beside him. “Yeah, I told him before the press conference that he can’t talk himself out of the team,” Klopp replied. “Apart from that, the level and competition for starting positions was very intense in training. How that will manifest itself in our starting XI, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out.” A considerably lighter evening for Germany Klopp has spent much of his opening international window discussing pressure, competition, tactical shortcomings and the considerable work still required to rebuild the German national team. Saturday offered something rather different. Pavlovic laughed at being asked to remember a tournament played during the year of his birth. Klopp supplied the historical analysis, serenaded Otto Rehhagel, attempted unsuccessfully to recruit the translator into the performance, and joked about Pavlovic’s starting prospects. The translator escaped without singing. Pavlovic escaped without talking himself out of the team. And Klopp, at the very least, appeared to be thoroughly enjoying himself. GGFN  |  Peter Weis