Leverkusen sweeps and dreams of another title

Jürgen Klopp took over as the new Germany coach with a clear message: the privacy of his family is a limit that he will not negotiate. In his first press conference, the former Liverpool coach warned that he could resign if the media invades that space.

“Jürgen Klopp has no career after the national team. Ideally, this will be the highlight of my career, of my life, of my working life. I will put everything I can into it,” declared the 59-year-old coach.

Klopp signed a contract until the 2030 World Cup, with clear objectives: Euro 2028 and the 2030 World Cup. He replaces Julian Nagelsmann, who left the position after Germany’s elimination in the round of 16 of the World Cup against Paraguay. Klopp noted that both Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel were treated unfairly by the press.

His goal: to restore enthusiasm to German football

Klopp assured that his mission is not only to win, but to make the team “cool” again. He admitted that he has not closely followed national team matches outside of major tournaments, but promised to create an atmosphere that excites the fans.

“I want to create something with the national team that makes people go home after the game and think, ‘That was really cool,'” he said.

The coach arrives after a year and a half as global director of football at Red Bull. The German federation paid one million euros to a charity linked to Red Bull and agreed to three friendly matches in Leipzig. Klopp will debut in September with four Nations League games against the Netherlands, Greece and Serbia.

Along with Klopp, former defender Per Mertesacker joins as general director of sport, with the mission of promoting youth development. His Liverpool assistants, Peter Krawietz and Pep Lijnders, also return, as well as former footballer Sven Bender. Klopp’s agent, Marc Kosicke, will have a strategic role, but will not be an employee of the federation.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri Hernández will undergo back surgery next Monday. This was confirmed by the club’s new coach, Enzo Maresca, during his official presentation.

Rodri has had physical problems since the anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered in 2024. Despite this, he managed to become World Cup champion with Spain and won the Ballon d’Or that year.

Surgery and Maresca’s words

Maresca did not specify the recovery time, but made clear his intention to retain the player. “Around a great player there are always conjectures, so it doesn’t worry me. I think it’s normal also because they won the World Cup,” he said.

“He was one of the best players and I think every coach wants to have Rodri because he is a top-level player. But now he has the surgery, I think on Monday, and he needs a vacation. He needs to rest, he needs to recover and then he will return here with us,” he added.

The Italian coach took over after the departure of Pep Guardiola, who left the club at the end of last season. Guardiola won 17 trophies with City, including six Premier League titles and the 2023 Champions League.

Guardiola’s legacy and the new cycle

Maresca, 46 years old, is living his third stage at the club. Previously, he was the academy coach (2020-21) and Guardiola’s assistant (2022-23), a season in which the team won the treble. “It is a privilege that the club has opted for me,” he said.

“I consider Pep probably the best coach in the world in the last 20-25 years, but it is a nice challenge,” he added. His style seeks to maintain aggressiveness with the ball and control of the game, concepts that he already knows from his time with Guardiola.

City trusts that Rodri will recover soon to continue being a key player in Maresca’s new project.

Replacement on the Belgian bench

The Belgian Football Federation announced this Friday Mark van Bommel as the new national coach. The former Netherlands international replaces Rudi Garcia, whose departure was confirmed after his contract expired on July 31.

Van Bommel arrives after Belgium reached the quarterfinals in the last World Cup. The 48-year-old coach will lead a generation that he considers has high potential.

“Belgium has extraordinary players and enormous potential,” said Van Bommel. “Together with my coaching staff, we want to build a team that is disciplined, ambitious and brave enough to compete with the best.”

The Dutchman has previous experience in clubs such as PSV, Wolfsburg and Antwerp. Now he takes on the challenge of leading the ‘Red Devils’ to new achievements on the international stage.

Their first test will be qualifying for the next World Cup. The fans expect a firm and offensive style, a hallmark of his career as a player and technical director.