Jurgen Klopp Defends Mesut Ozil in Retirement Fallout
Liverpool’s manager, Jurgen Klopp, has come to the defence of Mesut Ozil amidst the fallout of the Arsenal midfielder’s retirement from international football.
Ozil – who is of Turkish descent – claims that his retirement from the German national team was due to the “racism and disrespect” he experienced from the German FA.
He says that his poor treatment began after a photo of Ozil’s controversial meeting with Turkey president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was published.
Speaking to German TV station Sport 1, Klopp called out the repeated attacks and criticism Ozil has faced in the aftermath.
Klopp said: “This is a classic example of absolute misinformation and, of course, complete nonsense. In politics, little things have always been blown up and big things pushed away in order to continue.”
He added: “I do not know [Ozil] 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 [in their heritage]. Where is the problem? That’s beautiful.”
