Nagelsmann shock lifted: Germany's young star reveals details of Klopp's call

"... I was nervous"

Cologne's young star Said El Mala has joined the senior German national team for the second time in his career. Now he hopes to make his first international appearance under new head coach Jürgen Klopp.

El Mala described the phone call in which Klopp summoned him to the national team as "short and to the point".

The 20-year-old was on the plane when the call-up came. He fired off a text message promising Klopp he would call back the moment he landed.

German magazine Kicker reported his comments to Cologne radio on Tuesday, in which he said: "The call was short and to the point. He (Klopp) was receiving a lot of calls at that moment, and many players were calling him back."

What did he feel during Klopp's call? "I was nervous, but the nerves disappear after ten seconds. He is a coach who captures your heart with his cheerful spirit, and then you are no longer nervous."

Klopp also promised him a deeper conversation: "He said to me: when you arrive, we will talk calmly again."

Fresh from extending his Cologne contract until 2031, the player sees his call-up once again as a confirmation of his performance.

El Mala said: "I really appreciate this call-up. It means that he (Klopp) saw something he liked in me."

He added: "Of course, there are aspects I need to develop. He knows that, and so do I. But I have a chance to show my abilities, and I will make the most of it."

El Mala first joined the German national team in November 2025 under former coach Julian Nagelsmann. He never played in the Luxembourg match and was sent back to the under-21s. More strikingly, Nagelsmann later left him out of the 2026 World Cup squad, despite an outstanding season in the German league of 13 goals and 5 assists, and the snub prompted him to voice his disappointment more than once.

The picture changed fast under Klopp. "Sky Sports" reported that the new boss "is steadily planning" to include El Mala in the matches against Serbia and Greece in the UEFA Nations League.

Germany begin the Klopp era against the Netherlands next Thursday at the Johan Cruyff Arena, in the first round of the first path of the UEFA Nations League. They then face Greece and Serbia on 27 September and 1 October respectively.