Tijani Reynders talks about his move to Al-Qadisiyah, Saudi Arabia, and Jurgen Klopp begins his mission with the German national team

Dutch midfielder Tijani Reynders said that he was not satisfied with the role he was asked to play in Manchester City, stressing at the same time that he could not ignore the huge financial offer he received from the Saudi Al-Qadisiyah Club.

Reynders had joined the team competing in the Saudi Professional League in a surprise deal worth 61 million euros ($69.70 million). He explained that he preferred to play in the position of an integrated midfielder, who performs offensive and defensive roles, but he found himself increasingly participating in the position of an attacking midfielder.

He told reporters, as the Dutch team prepares to face Germany in the European Nations League, tomorrow (Thursday): “During the preparation for the season, I noticed that things were heading in this direction again within Manchester City, so I began to wonder if I wanted to play another season in this role.”

He added: “The honest answer was: No.” “I wanted to look for a new opportunity, and then I learned from the club that this was allowed.”

Reynders touched on the criticism that accompanied his move to Saudi Arabia, saying: “I think many people believe that a football player’s career at the highest level ends when he takes a step like this. “At first, I felt the same way, too.”

But his conversations with Al-Qadisiyah coach Brendan Rodgers prompted him to reconsider the matter.

“He told me I could spend three or four very enjoyable years here and then return to Europe,” he said. There are many examples of this now, and this is my goal as well.”

The 28-year-old added: “With the presence of all these big names, I see that the Saudi League is actually stronger than the Dutch League. If people want to judge the level of football there, they should watch it first.”

It was reported that Reynders signed a four-year contract, worth about 100 million euros.

“Anyone can take a moral position on the matter, but I think most people will understand this decision,” he said.

He added: “I don’t want to have to work after my football career ends.” Even after I left Manchester City, I did not need that, but this step also allows me to secure my family’s future for generations to come.”

He concluded by saying: “If this decision will also give my grandchildren a comfortable life, then why wouldn’t I take it?”

Joshua Kimmich, captain of the German national football team, said that he feels a special responsibility after the team's third successive failure in the World Cup, indicating that he is looking forward to working to change things in the future and bring a smile to the fans.

He stated, in an interview with the RTL and Sky networks: “When looking back, exiting the (World Cup) in three consecutive editions represents part of my career. You can't change what happened, but you can be sure that things will turn out differently in the future. This is what I direct my energy and focus to. “We will do everything we can to bring happiness to the fans.”

The German national team bid farewell to the World Cup in the group stage in the 2018 and 2022 editions, and also bid farewell to this year’s edition after losing on penalties to Paraguay in the round of 32, which was Kimmich’s worst exit.

He said: “For me, this was the most difficult exit from the tournament. This happened the third time, but this one was different, so it was harder. “I needed some time to process and deal with what happened.”

The German national team is seeking a new beginning under the leadership of new coach Jurgen Klopp, who replaced Julian Nagelsmann after the end of the World Cup.

Kimmich said about Klopp, who will lead the German national team, for the first time, tomorrow, Thursday, against its Dutch host in the “European Nations League”: “I definitely feel that he is very excited about this mission, and that taking over as coach of Germany means a lot to him. He brings with him a lot of energy, enthusiasm and great aspiration to this stage.”

He added: “It will be important for rediscovering our DNA and identity. This identity appears on and off the field, and at the internal and external levels as well, and it is reflected in the way we deal with each other, how we play for each other on the field, and how we communicate internally and externally.”

Kimmich sees himself as the leader of the German national team, and feels a special responsibility after he has played 114 international matches so far.

He said: “People always expect us to give our best, but I expect that of myself as well.” “It is also about helping the team return to the position to which it belongs, and to which its capabilities and talents qualify it.”

Jurgen Klopp promised a “new approach” as he began his career as coach of the German national football team, which has witnessed a significant decline in its results since winning its fourth world title in 2014 in Brazil.

On Monday, a few days before his team's opening match in the European Nations League away to the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Thursday, Klopp recorded a video clip in which he made an appeal to German fans at home and abroad.

The former Liverpool coach spoke in English, introducing himself as the “new” man in charge, thanking the fans who “support us from all over the world.”

The phrase “new” constitutes a sarcastic reference to his description of himself as “ordinary” during his introduction as Liverpool coach, a word that was closely linked to his English career, which spanned nine years at Anfield.

Now, after returning to the training seats for the first time since leaving Liverpool in 2024, Klopp promised to follow a “new approach,” hoping to return the faltering German giant to a position close to what it was previously.

Klopp said Thursday: “We will try to do everything possible to make our new approach clear.” “I expect to see more immediately.”

He added: “It might get a little messy, but I accept that. “The important thing is that there is vitality.”

The successes he achieved with Mainz and Borussia Dortmund in Germany and Liverpool in England gave Klopp a position unmatched by anyone in modern German football.

Many prominent coaches have taken over the leadership of the German national team, but few of them have had the same amount of authority to radically change the current situation.

His first step was to announce an expanded list of 44 players, including 16 new faces who had never played internationally, to be divided into two groups for the matches, while excluding the popular striker Deniz Undav, as evidence of his willingness to think differently.

Freiburg right-back Philippe Troy is one of the new names called up.

The 25-year-old player was not previously considered among the German national team's options, nor did he play under Klopp's leadership, but he summed up the feelings of many players whose careers the coach changed over the years.

“You feel ready to walk through fire for him,” Troy said on Tuesday, adding that Klopp is “an exceptional person.”

As for the other newcomer, Eintracht Frankfurt striker Younes Bentaleb, he has been the subject of interest from his native Morocco, the African champion and fourth-place finisher in the 2022 World Cup.

The Frankfurt-born striker spoke about his decision to represent Germany, while summing up Klopp's appeal, saying: “When Klopp calls you, you have to go. "He is one of the best coaches in the world and brings great positive energy."

After Germany was accustomed to reaching at least the semi-finals in major tournaments during the last decade, it has achieved only one victory in the knockout rounds of the World Cup or European Cup since 2016.

Klopp's mission to revive the German national team seems daunting, but the 59-year-old coach is no stranger to reviving giants who have fallen from the top.

When he took over as coach of Dortmund, the club had just survived bankruptcy. In less than five years, his team won the league title twice and reached the Champions League final.

In Liverpool, Klopp took over a team that qualified for the Champions League only once during the previous five seasons, leading them to three final matches and winning the title once.

Most importantly, he brought the English Premier League title back to Anfield after a long period of absence.

In light of a divided media landscape that includes former players who do not hesitate to criticize the German Football Association, Klopp began working to unite the country behind a common goal.

During the announcement of his lineup, Klopp distributed hats in the colors of the German flag bearing the phrase “One in 83 Million,” in reference to the population of Germany.

He also contacted members of the German Federation’s star team, who are former international players who played at least one match with the national team, asking for their support by saying: “We are all the national team.”

It seems that the former player and influential commentator Lothar Matthaus was influenced by Klopp's campaign, as he wrote in his column on the German "Sky" network website that "everything will be better" with Klopp taking over the job.

“This has not always been the case in recent years, but trust is important,” the former Ballon d’Or winner wrote.