Jürgen Klopp’s first day as Germany head coach was built around patience rather than reset talk. He said a World Cup disappointment does not require a blank slate, called the job a step-by-step project and made clear that the early focus is on learning more about the people behind the players.

Klopp's first weeks in charge

Klopp has just under five weeks until his first appearance on the touchline. Germany's first major camp under him is set for Herzogenaurach from 20 September, then the team travel to face the Netherlands in Amsterdam on 24 September before hosting Greece at Augsburg's WWK Arena on 27 September.

He also outlined the way he wants to use the time before those fixtures. "I'm trying to visit a few clubs and players before things get underway. But that won't be possible with everyone. And you have to give yourself time. I know the players, but not always the people behind the players. It's important for me to learn what drives each guy, where he comes from, where he wants to go," Klopp said.

That is a pretty clear answer to the usual first-day rush for grand declarations. He wants contact, observation and time with the squad, not a public restart button.

Andrich's case for a recall

Robert Andrich's situation adds a smaller subplot to the wider story. The Bayer Leverkusen midfielder and captain was not in Germany's summer World Cup squad, and Julian Nagelsmann phoned him in the middle of May to tell him he would not be selected.

Andrich said he still wants back in. "Basically, my aim is to be involved again. I want to work my way back into the national team's focus. I have the ambition to become part of the team again and I still want to experience something with the national team," he told bavarianfootballworks.com.

He also described his meeting with Klopp as positive. "When we saw each other, it was really enjoyable. We talked a lot about football," Andrich said.

His recent form does not scream automatic recall, but it is steady enough to keep him in view. Leverkusen's last five matches include three wins, one draw and one defeat, while Andrich's most recent outing was a 6.9 against Hamburger SV. He also produced a 7.5 against Bayern München in that run.

Klopp has not promised anyone a clean slate, and he has not hidden the fact that time is short before the first camp. What he has done is set the tone for a long job, with Herzogenaurach on 20 September and the Netherlands in Amsterdam four days later.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →