Joshua Kimmich Urges Quick Progress as Germany Struggles Under Jurgen Klopp in Unexpected Defeat to Greece

Joshua Kimmich has urged his teammates to speed up their tactical development following Germany’s surprising 1-0 defeat against Greece in the UEFA Nations League. The match marked Jurgen Klopp's home debut as Germany’s coach but exposed difficulties in adapting to his intense playing style.

Germany Faces Challenges Adapting to Klopp's Style

The Bayern Munich midfielder was straightforward about the team’s current struggles after the loss at the WWK Arena. Instead of showing progress under Klopp, Germany appeared disjointed and lacked the creativity needed to break through Greece’s tough defense. Kimmich admitted that adjusting to this new tactical phase is challenging but insisted the players must take responsibility for their poor finishing.

"We need to improve in every area. We need to understand the coach’s ideas even better. I think what he’s suggesting is very good and will help us. Now it’s up to us to implement it. He’s very clear about what he wants," Kimmich told ARD.

Tactical Issues and Missed Opportunities

Despite high hopes for Klopp’s first game at home, Germany struggled to find a way past Greece’s deep defensive setup. The only goal came from a deflected shot by Dimitrios Kourbelis that goalkeeper Alexander Nubel couldn’t stop—an unfortunate moment since Kimmich himself accidentally diverted the ball.

"It certainly wasn’t a good performance from us. It’s unfortunate that we lost it late on; I don’t think that was necessary. We didn’t create many chances and had trouble against their low defensive line. Their keeper made some good saves too. With a bit of luck, we could have scored, but overall, we were too static and lacked creativity. We didn’t move enough and didn’t come up with enough ideas. A 0-0 draw would have been deserved," Kimmich explained.

Different Approach From Previous Coaching Era

Some fans saw echoes of Germany’s disappointing World Cup exit under former coach Julian Nagelsmann when watching the team struggle against a compact defense. Still, Kimmich rejected any claims that Germany is repeating past mistakes. He highlighted that Klopp’s approach is fundamentally different, even if the results haven’t yet reflected that.

"I wouldn’t say that. It’s a different way of playing. I don’t think we had that many turnovers or got caught on counter-attacks often. The opponent sat very deep and relied more on long balls. Nevertheless, we weren’t creative enough going forward as a team," Kimmich said.

Kimmich to Miss Upcoming Matches

Looking ahead, Kimmich will not feature in Germany’s next games against Serbia and the return match with Greece. Klopp is rotating his squad and testing other players from the talent pool. This will leave a leadership gap that senior teammates must fill as Germany seeks its first win under Klopp without Kimmich on the field. Meanwhile, Kimmich will focus on his club duties during this period.

Upcoming UEFA Nations League Fixtures:

• Germany vs Serbia: 1 Oct 2026, 21:45
• Greece vs Germany: 1 Oct 2026, 21:45
• Netherlands vs Germany: Date TBA