Klopp draws positive conclusions after his DFB debut despite a 1-1 draw in the Netherlands

Jürgen Klopp placed Holland captain Virgil van Dijk's jersey behind his black chair as a souvenir. Then the new national coach made a debut assessment that gives hope three months after the World Cup debacle in North America: “The intensity, the willingness, the passion” - he really liked all of that as the new DFB head coach in the 1-1 (1-0) win for the national soccer team in the Netherlands.

After Felix Nmecha took the lead, a win would definitely have been possible. But even if DFB captain Joshua Kimmich spoke of a perceived defeat at the start of the Nations League after the late goal conceded by Klopp's former Liverpool student Cody Gakpo - the appearance, the approach in the Johan Cruyff Arena, counted more for Klopp than the pure result.

“Of course, all the other information we received is much more important to me than somehow getting a 1-0 over time. We're working with them now," said the 59-year-old, announcing an intensive analysis of the wild and sometimes toxic neighborhood duel with the Orange team.

This is what Klopp says...

... about the new tactics of the DFB team

Two days of preparation are not enough to learn Klopp football. “We were only able to scratch the surface,” said the national coach. And yet, after his crash course, he felt vindicated. «I've seen a lot. Counter-pressing situations, I would like to see a lot more, but there were still some.”

Klopp felt like he was studying a foreign language: “The processes can’t be natural yet. It's learned. And as everyone realizes when learning: There comes a moment when you briefly know all the vocabulary you learned in the morning, then maybe you'll know something at lunchtime. But it wouldn’t be bad if you looked at it again the next day.”

Klopp is a master of graphic comparisons. And a master at finding good things where others see flaws. «Do I have the impression that we were only heading towards perfection? “That wasn’t you,” he said. But that wouldn't have been good at all, he says. Because: “The worst thing that could have happened of all the negative signals would have been if we had played the best game in our time together today. Because then everyone else would have become worse.” Klopp wanted to see it as an advantage that there was still plenty of room for improvement.

... to the appearance of the three newcomers

Klopp can also rave. And that's what he did when it came to the performance of the three debutants. There was Philipp Treu, who made an excellent impression over 90 minutes as a right wing-back and confirmed the hope that Kimmich might now be able to stay in the center. Treu played “extraordinarily,” said Klopp.

The eloquent Freiburg resident returned the favor: “It’s good to hear that someone opened their eyes and looked at Freiburg.” Klopp has him “on his radar” and is “in the mood for me,” said Treu.

His club colleague Yannick Engelhardt, who came on late as a joker, was also praised by Klopp. And Younes Ebnoutalib? Oh yes, the national coach thought the attacker was so good as Havertz's replacement that he almost forgot that the Frankfurt player was also a debutant. Opportunity seized.

... about the injuries to Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz

The early exit for Jamal Musiala before kick-off and for Kai Havertz after 30 minutes was painful in two senses. An MRI should provide information about the severity of the injuries of both offensive players. Further appearances in the remaining three games are unlikely. Havertz could be replaced by Jonathan Burkardt or Nick Woltemade, who were actually only supposed to be in the second squad next week.

But here too, Klopp surprised. For Musiala, after his recent collapses, it's good that he also has a typical footballer's injury - longed-for normality, instead of extraordinary nervous illness and absences. But of course Klopp would also like Musiala to be back on the pitch quickly.

... about ter Stegen's performance in the goalkeeping comeback

For Spain's coach Xavi, Marc-André ter Stegen was the guarantee for Germany winning points. Ultimately, Holland was much better in the second half and had corresponding chances to score. «The Spaniards. “You’re always right, yes, world champions and so on,” Klopp wanted to mock. And yet he agreed with the goalkeeper rating. “We already noticed that he had one or the other hand or foot on it. It was a very, very good performance. Absolutely top.”

... about the situation in the Nations League group

In a “parallel world”, a point in Holland would always sound good, said Klopp about the situation in Group 2 of the A-League with Greece and Serbia as other opponents. But now it feels like two lost points. In general, despite all the reflected starting analysis, he also has to look at the results.

«We are in a results sport. And we shouldn’t play a draw for the next 500 games.” The first victory of his term in office should come on Sunday (8.45 p.m./ARD) in Augsburg against Greece.