Klopp questioned aspects of Bayern’s defensive approach and Harry Kane’s positioning during the club’s 2-2 Champions League draw with Arsenal. Vincent Kompany declined to engage with the comments when asked about them, replying: “Yes, I’m not saying anything about that. Next question.”
Kahn, speaking on the RTL and Sky programme "Triple – der Hagedorn Fußballtalk", said Klopp’s position as national team coach made his words carry particular weight.
“I first had to think about whether he was the national team coach or still a football pundit. That was a typical football pundit’s statement, which could of course also be interpreted as criticism of a club coach,” Kahn said.
The former Bayern chief executive argued that Klopp should be aware of how his remarks could be received, especially given the different responsibilities of a national team manager and a club coach.
“I think Jürgen Klopp should be clear about that too. He had already started doing that with the difficult comment about Julian Nagelsmann, which was apparently made in the heat of the moment, when he said he was still the national team coach.”
Kahn then called for greater solidarity between managers, saying Klopp’s role required him to consider the consequences of his public comments.
“I think this is also about collegiality between coaches. A national team coach in particular has to know exactly what he is saying. Because that can lead, as it is doing now, to us discussing these words. I was surprised by them, because you don’t normally hear that from a national team coach,” he said.
Klopp became Germany head coach in September and is still early in his tenure. His comments about Bayern were made during a high-profile European fixture, meaning they were immediately scrutinised by fans and pundits.
Kompany’s brief response avoided escalating the issue, while Kahn has now made the disagreement more explicit. Rather than disputing Klopp’s right to analyse football, Kahn’s criticism centred on the tone and responsibility attached to his new position.
The exchange has opened a wider debate about the line between tactical opinion and public criticism, particularly when the speaker holds a national role and the subject is a leading club in the country.