September 18 – Germany coach Jürgen Klopp says his team can help ensure “national pride is not entrusted to the wrong people”, speaking after a far-right election victory.
The comments come after the Alternative for Germany party won 43.8% of the vote in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, falling short of an absolute majority in the regional parliament, with strong results also expected in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
No far-right party has controlled a German state since World War II.
Announcing his first squad, Klopp stressed that he was not a political “expert” but that he did not panic from the moment. “We had an election where some people might have thought it was OK, while others were like, ‘Oh my God, what’s going on here?'” he said. “From my perspective as an athlete, I can say that I would really like to get the flag back for me, for all of us.”
He went on to explain what he meant. “I want when someone shakes it, no one thinks, ‘What’s wrong with you?’ Instead, I want people to understand: you are happy and realize how lucky you were to be born, raised or moved to this wonderful country.”
Klopp, who prefers “positive patriotism” to “national pride,” added: “I can be proud to be German while being open-minded and diverse and kind and gentle.” He also argued that football can “foster a sense of community, so people can really feel the power of sport”.
Klopp is carefully but deliberately wading into a tense national conversation.
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