Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp jumps to Mesut Ozil defence and says Arsenal star’s loyalty to Germany should not be questioned
Jurgen Klopp has defended Mesut Ozil in the row surrounding his retirement from international football by insisting his loyalty to Germany should not be in question.
The Arsenal playmaker quit representing his country after this summer’s World Cup in Russia, where they were knocked out in the group stage for the first time in 80 years.
Ozil’s individual performances were heavily criticised with some accusing him of a lack of patriotism after meeting with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, when the Turkish President visited London in May.
The 29-year-old’s grandparents emigrated from Turkey to Germany but his public backing of Erdogan was considered controversial by some given several German citizens were being held on political charges as part of a crackdown on free speech.
Ozil subsequently chose to retire citing racism and a lack of support from the German Football Federation – an accusation it denies – but Klopp told sport1: “This is a classic example of absolute misinformation and, of course, complete nonsense.
“This photo was used – first by Erdogan, then by many other people. In politics, little things have always been blown up and big things pushed away in order to continue. Normally intelligent people tend to hold back because it is not easy to say the right thing. I would count myself too. All those who have no idea are very loud in these conversations.
“I know Ilkay Gundogan very well, I know Emre Can and Nuri Sahin very well. I do not know Mesut so well, but I would like to take him home. I do not doubt these guys at least about their loyalty to our homeland. The difference is that they just have one more thing. Where is the problem? That’s beautiful. Cultural diversity, we all thought it was really cool around the 2006 World Cup.”
Meanwhile, Arsenal have no fresh injury concerns ahead of Saturday’s visit of West Ham. Nacho Monreal has not suffered a reaction to his first appearance of the season at Chelsea while Aaron Ramsey is no longer hampered by a calf injury sustained in pre-season.
