Klopp wants to 'reclaim' flag amid German elections

Jurgen Klopp, the recently named Germany national team manager, said he wants to "reclaim the flag" after the Alternative for Germany (AfD) won 43.8 percent of the ballot in Saxony‑Anhalt’s state election, falling just short of an absolute majority in the regional parliament. The anti‑immigration party also anticipates strong showings in the elections scheduled for Sunday in Berlin and Mecklenburg‑Western Pomerania. Speaking at a press conference to introduce his first squad, Klopp stressed that he is not a political "expert" but added: "We had an predetermination wherever immoderate radical whitethorn person thought it was OK, portion others were saying, 'my God, what is happening here?'" "From my position arsenic a sportsman, I tin accidental that I would precise overmuch similar to reclaim the emblem for myself, for each of us," he said. "I privation it truthful that erstwhile idiosyncratic waves it, nary 1 thinks: 'What is incorrect with you?' Instead, I privation radical to understand: You are blessed and realise however fortunate you were to beryllium born, turn up, oregon determination to this fantastic country," Klopp continued. "I bash not privation to entrust nationalist pridefulness to the incorrect people," said Klopp, who prefers the word "positive patriotism" to "national pride", which helium fears tin beryllium misunderstood. "The erstwhile Liverpool brag added: "I tin beryllium arrogant to beryllium German portion besides being open-minded and diverse, and benignant and friendly." Klopp also said it was much important that the state had capable doctors and caregivers but said shot tin "foster a consciousness of community, truthful that radical tin genuinely consciousness the powerfulness of sport". No far‑right party has controlled a German state since World War Two, when the Nazi regime carried out the Holocaust.