Klopp pledges to reduce squad for November after "top-notch" effort in Greece

The DfB head coach said his next squad selection in November will be more ruthless after he reflected on tonight's draw with Greece.

Photo: Maja Hitij/Getty Images.

Speaking to RTL tonight, Jürgen Klopp says his Germany squad will be significantly reduced when the next Nations League international windows rolls around again in mid-November.

“We will calmly analyze the two weeks and then in five weeks we have two international matches again with a reduced squad," Klopp said after Germany's 0-0 draw with Greece.

“Of course, we won't be going there with 44 players. The door is open to everyone. If someone is not called up, they know it's not because they're not good enough, but because we have to stop at 23-24 players,” he added. 

This decision comes after the DFB's new head coach decided to use the current four-game schedule to trial players in two completely separate squads made of 22 players each. 

Regarding his side's scoreless stalemate with Greece – who currently top the group with 8 points – Klopp said he is “very satisfied because I know where we’ve come from."

"I’m very, very, very impressed with the team. If anything, I’m pleasantly surprised rather than disappointed. I wouldn’t have believed we were capable of playing a first half like that.

"The boys put in an incredible performance – top-notch in every respect, except for the fact that we didn’t convert our chances into goals or spot a better-positioned teammate in the final third. 

"We got a bit unsettled around the 60-minute mark, so our movements lost some of their clarity. But we played just three days ago, it’s tough to maintain that kind of pace for the full 90 minutes.

“Our counter-pressing worked outstandingly well 90% of the time. The problem is, during that other 10% when it doesn’t work, things can get a bit complicated,” the 59-year-old noted.

Klopp's squad will briefly disband for the next month before smaller panel will be selected for their remaining two games against Serbia (13 Nov) and the Netherlands (16 Nov).