Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has defended Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil after his decision to retire from the German international side.
Ozil came under-fire from the German media and leading officials after meeting and posing for a photograph with the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The Gunners playmaker has a mixed German and Turkish heritage and, after contemplation, decided to rule himself out of future international matches due to the apparent lack of support he received and the feeling of victimisation he was left under.
German-born Klopp spoke to the media regarding the incident, citing that it was unfair on Ozil to have to come to this decision and that he holds the player in high regard and respect, alongside other mixed-race German internationals.
“This is a classic example of absolute misinformation and, of course, complete nonsense,” he told Sport 1.
“In politics, little things have always been blown up and big things pushed away in order to continue. Normally, intelligent people tend to hold back because it is not easy to say the right thing.
“I would count myself [among those people] too. All those who have no idea are very loud in these conversations.
“I know Ilkay Gundogan very well, I know Emre Can and Nuri Sahin very well. I do not know Mesut 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.”
Ozil has struggled alongside Arsenal in the opening two matches of the Premier League season, losing both. Their next fixture is against West Ham United at the weekend.
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