Virgil van Dijk has publicly admitted he did not like one of Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool rules, which the new Germany head coach has now introduced with the national team.
Klopp left Anfield in the summer of 2024 and spent 18 months as global head of football for Red Bull. The 59-year-old has now taken charge of Germany and has begun overseeing training for the first time since his Liverpool exit over two years ago.
Four new rules for Germany
Klopp has introduced sweeping regime changes since taking charge of Germany, including four new rules in an effort to restore the team to its former glory after a poor run at major tournaments.
One rule reportedly requires Germany's players to arrive for dinner at the team hotel together at the same time each evening, typically 7pm or 8pm.
Making players stay in a hotel, away from their families, on the eve of matches has not been a universally popular move. One player who was not a fan of the rule during Klopp's time at Liverpool was his star defender and captain, Van Dijk.
Van Dijk's preference
In late 2024, after Klopp's successor Arne Slot scrapped the rule and allowed players to stay at their own homes instead of a hotel before home matches, the veteran centre-back voiced his appreciation for the change.
Van Dijk said: "It's everyone's own preference, but it's the rules now. Personally, I like to sleep in my own bed and be with my family, and so it works out quite well. But what we did in the past worked out quite well, too, as we've been very successful in terms of winning."
Further restrictions
Klopp has also introduced a rule barring families from accompanying players at all times during major tournaments, allowing it only on an occasional basis.
The former Liverpool boss has also reportedly introduced two bans affecting Germany players, who will no longer be able to have mobile phones on matchdays or have a haircut while at the team hotel.
Germany will play four Nations League fixtures over the next three weeks during the extended international break. Klopp's tenure begins with an away trip to face the Netherlands on Thursday night, a home clash against Serbia and a double-header against Greece.
