Philipp Treu carried his first international jersey in a black bag like a treasure from the football arena in Amsterdam. The black shirt with the number 13 should have a very special place at home. But where? The 25-year-old spontaneously had an idea. “It will be hung somewhere, maybe in the living room. I have to ask my friend if it can hang there," said Treu - and first laughed heartily.
With shining eyes, the 1.72 meter tall bundle of energy from SC Freiburg stood in the catacombs as the biggest winner in the 1-1 draw between the newly formed national team and the Netherlands. And was especially grateful to one person: Jürgen Klopp.
For years it was said in Germany that there was no right-wing defender. Until the new national coach presented an alternative at his premiere that could turn out to be a premium solution in the coming months and years. Klopp praised the newcomer as having an “extraordinary” performance.
“It’s good to hear that someone opened their eyes and looked at Freiburg,” said Treu. It was a small, fine verbal barb against Klopp's predecessor. He was happy that “Jürgen Klopp had me on his radar and was interested in me,” said Treu. Unlike Julian Nagelsmann, who pushed his captain Joshua Kimmich outwards during the World Cup flop in America.
Loyal to Gakpo: “He doesn’t feel like defending”
Treu implemented what Klopp sees in him. He ran up and down the line, he worked with abandon. The national coach said “not much” to him before the game: “He said, step on the gas and have fun. I tried that. He gave me a certain looseness. I have to say, I wasn’t nervous at all.”
Treu did a very good job defensively against Cody Gakpo. The Liverpool star's injury-time goal was not his fault. Klopp had prepared Treu well for his former club player - and the little Freiburg boy isn't afraid of big names anyway.
«It's extra motivation for me when I know my opponent is Cody Gakpo. Jürgen Klopp said to me: "Hey, he can kick well offensively. But defensively he doesn't really want to work backwards." I think I annoyed him too. He always had a long way to go backwards."
A prime example was Felix Nmecha's 1-0 win. Faithful was one of the preparers after a sprint up the line. “Karim (Adeyemi) came to me and said he got the template. But it was a cool feeling,” said Treu. After the break he could have even finished in the penalty area himself. “I have to get better at that, take heart and shoot myself.”
The proud parents wave: “An unbelievable feeling”
For Treu, “a dream came true” in the international classic against Oranje, which the almost 26-year-old had to wait a long time for. «I wasn't a quick starter. I always stalked. Little by little I wanted to move into the left passing lane and overtake my competitors. “That’s how my career has always been,” he said about his career in the background.
He had a permanent smile on his face as he spoke. “When I look in the stands and my parents wave with great pride after the game, it’s an unbelievable feeling. Standing here for the first time is crazy.”
But this madness should only be the beginning of more. “Now it’s just getting started,” he announced: “There’s no rest, now we have to work even more.” The Nations League continues on Sunday (8.45 p.m./ARD) with the first home game against Greece in Augsburg.
Kimmich praises the debutants
Treu's strong DFB debut outshone the other debuts of Frankfurt's Younes Ebnoutalib, who was also courageous and replaced Kai Havertz, who was injured early on, in the attack. And from Treu's club colleague Yanik Engelhardt, who also made his first international appearance in midfield in the final phase.
There was collective praise from Captain Kimmich. «Both Philipp and Younes did outstandingly. And Yannik also threw everything into it again.” Especially the “two who were allowed to play longer also showed footballing quality that will help us. I am convinced of that.” And Kimmich in particular will be extremely happy that Klopp has given everyone in Germany a right-back with a future.
