Lothar Matthäus is the guest editor-in-chief of SportBild this week and the Germany legend conducted an in-depth interview with Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp for the latest edition of the magazine.
Joachim Löw announced his decision to step down as Germany manager after Euro 2020 in the summer, and reports immediately started linking Klopp to the national team job.
The Reds coach was quick to dismiss this rumour and his agent, Marc Kosicke, also joined his client to rule out the possibility of Klopp leaving the Premier League side.
Matthäus asked the former Borussia Dortmund manager about the Germany links. The Liverpool boss detailed reasons for distancing himself from the national team job and also explained why he cannot leave his current employer.
“I’m sorry for SportBild, that we can’t keep it simmering a little longer (grins). But the important thing is: I didn’t say that I didn’t WANT to become a national coach, but that I CANNOT. That’s a huge difference,” he told SportBild.
“Right now, in such a difficult phase, to say from my side: I’ll be gone then? That will not do.
“I am full of energy, even when friends text me: ‘Are you okay? You look bad!’
I’ve just gotten older and haven’t seen the sun for a year, and I don’t sleep much. That’s why I look bad. And not because we have six home defeats in a row. I want to sort this out with the boys and girls who work with me.
“And there is no way to say: ‘Oh, national coach, that would be an interesting job.’ That would be a great honour without question, but the timing is not right. I can’t. I am very sorry if I’ve let people down with it, but I can’t just step out of my responsibilities.”
The Reds have endured a difficult run, suffering six consecutive home defeats in the league. The Merseyside club are yet to register a league win at Anfield in 2021. 
Klopp and his men have started to change the trend by defeating Wolverhampton Wanderers and RB Leipzig in the last two matches.
Victory against Wolves helped Liverpool climb to sixth place in the table and they are now five points behind fourth placed Chelsea.
