Jurgen Klopp highlights key error in Germany’s first ever loss to Greece

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Jurgen Klopp highlighted that the changes he made to Germany’s starting line-up as well as the formation in which he set up the team contributed to a historic 1-0 defeat to Greece.

The loss was Germany’s first ever defeat to Greece and the first one under Klopp who remains winless since taking over from Julian Nagelsmann after the World Cup.

Despite the perceived errors in his preparation for the game, Klopp admitted that the shock Nations League defeat was ‘part of the process’ as he looks to rebuild the German national team into a world class team.

“It’s part of the process, absolutely,” Klopp told broadcaster ARD. “The lineup, the formation, the many changes — that is all 100% down to me.”

The decisive goal was scored by Greek substitute Dimitrios Kourbelis in the 74th minute and the result follows a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands in what was Klopp’s first game in charge of Germany.

Klopp made five changes to the starting XI from the team that lined-up against the Netherlands and they dominated possession against Greece but lacked quality in the final third. The only chance of note was a Karim Adeyemi shot in the first half that was saved by Greek goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis.

“Football, that’s how it is,” Klopp reflected after the game in an interview with UEFA.com. “Drawing this game tonight, I could have easily taken it, but losing — that’s harsh. I don’t think we deserved that, but it happened anyway, and here we are.

“Greece had a plan for the game tonight. We have to be more convinced about what we are doing. And in that moment, things will be good.”

Germany face Serbia in their next match and Klopp revealed that he will stick with his plan to rotate players and learn from the results.

“We’ll change the squad, change the team,” he said. “The good thing is that the other team doesn’t necessarily know how we’re going to play, but we don’t know right now how we’re going to play, because we have to bring that group together again.

“We can take a lot out of this game, and we will do that — and we’ll work on it.”

Germany defender Jonathan Tah also spoke of the Greece losss and explained that the squad will ‘stick together’ as they look to capitalise on the ‘euphoria around the new coach’.

“To be honest, we simply didn’t perform well enough,” Tah said. “Of course we’re disappointed and angry when we lose a match. But the important thing is that we stick together.

“That won’t change, the euphoria around the new coach. If we don’t play well and we lose, obviously not everyone is going to be happy. But we can make up for it in the next game.”