Jurgen Klopp's four-point plan to boost standards with Germany

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FT Desk

Jurgen Klopp has a four-point plan in place to improve professionalism standards within the German national team.

The former Liverpool boss was appointed following the tenure of Julian Nagelsmann, who was sacked after the country's disappointing display at the 2026 World Cup as they were eliminated at the Round of 32 stage by Paraguay.

Lothar Matthaus, the first outfield player to appear at five World Cup tournaments and a winner in 1990, reckons large family entourages, sanctioned by Nagelsmann, acted as a distraction for the players in a similar fashion that he experienced in the 1994 World Cup in the United States.

"There were documentaries [made] about this topic in ’94 [and] I don’t think it was that different this time round," the legendary midfielder told BILD.

"There's a lot to process, both on and off the pitch. Wives, families, everyone was involved. Lots of headlines.

"I don't know why you have to involve all the families right from the start.

"Then it's about travel options, about hotel bookings. That was all a topic within the team. It never appeared in the media, but I know it was a topic of discussion.

"One player was angry with another because one player's mother was [only] allowed to fly alone, while another's wife and children were allowed to fly. The others had to take a commercial flight."

Earlier in the tournament, Matthaus questioned the impact of head coach Nagelsmann’s girlfriend being present, suggesting it wasn't ideal.

According to BILD, Lena Wurzenberger, 34, had become a notable talking point due to her constant presence around the Germany camp. The former journalist was first seen at the team’s pre-tournament base in Frankfurt, where she was photographed watching training from a balcony alongside several players’ partners.

She was in attendance at games and at training since and was also spotted cycling with Nagelsmann.

Outside interference is one of the factors of international duty that Klopp is looking to address, reports Bild.

Here is his four-point plan to increase professionalism:

Punctuality

Under Nagelsmann, players staying at the team hotel were permitted to arrive for dinner at any point from around 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. Under Klopp, that flexibility is being removed. Players are expected to be at dinner on time at either 7 p.m. or 8 p.m., depending on the schedule. The aim is to create a stronger sense of unity within the squad. Dinner is also intended to become a time when players can talk, share ideas and spend more time interacting with one another.

No phones before matches

Players will now be expected to put their phones aside during pre-match duties. Whether they are warming up in the gym, receiving treatment or getting a massage, the focus should be on preparing for the game. Instead of using their phones, players are encouraged to communicate with teammates around them, including those receiving treatment at nearby tables.

No haircuts at the team hotel

Getting a haircut at the team hotel will no longer be permitted. The reasoning is straightforward: players are expected to take care of personal arrangements such as haircuts before joining the team, in the same way an employee would handle them before going away on a business trip.

No families during tournaments

Nagelsmann faced significant criticism for allowing players' families to stay with them throughout the World Cup. Under Klopp, this will be handled differently. Family visits will only be allowed occasionally during major tournaments. The intention is for the players to remain focused on their common objective while spending more time together and developing a stronger team bond at the hotel.