Jürgen Klopp publicly disagreed with Virgil van Dijk on Thursday after Germany’s controversial opening goal caused a diplomatic row following a 1-1 Nations League draw against the Netherlands in Amsterdam.
Klopp was taking charge of Germany for the first time when Felix Nmecha put the visitors ahead after 32 minutes, finishing from close range following an attack that the Netherlands had not stopped playing against. The controversy stemmed from Dutch forward Brian Brobbey picking up an injury in the build-up. This prompted several Netherlands players to pause in expectations of the game to be stopped. However, Germany continued and converted the resulting move.
Netherlands captain Van Dijk, a player Klopp managed and captained at Liverpool, did not hold back after the final whistle. He described the decision to allow the goal to stand as a “disgrace.” Former Dutch international Rafael van der Vaart separately branded Germany’s behaviour as “unsportsmanlike.”
Klopp, however, was equally direct. “It certainly wasn’t a disgrace. The goal was completely legitimate. I don’t have a guilty conscience,” he said.
“I would have told my players that they had to keep playing. They didn’t. And we took full advantage of it with a really excellent move. It certainly wasn’t a disgrace, but when emotions are running high, you can say anything in the heat of the moment.”
Germany captain Joshua Kimmich backed his manager, suggesting Van Dijk had not given a “considered response” to the incident.
“I played a pass to Philipp, he crossed the ball, and we scored a goal,” Kimmich said.
Cody Gakpo, another former Liverpool player signed by Klopp himself, pulled the Netherlands level in stoppage time to earn his side a draw.
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