Nations League is like a Joshua fight every second night – Klopp
JURGEN KLOPP once again turned his ire on the Nations League as he suggested the new international competition was the equivalent of “watching Anthony Joshua every second night”.
The Liverpool manager is counting the cost of an international break which saw Sadio Mane, Naby Keita, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk return early from national duty due to injury.
While most of those problems were actually caused during or in preparation for Africa Cup of Nations games, it was UEFA’s new Nations League to which Klopp directed most of his frustration.
Klopp believes the advent of even more competitive football will only put more pressure on already stretched footballers.
He said: “You make a lot of my comments about the Nations League – and everyone has their opinion about it – but the things they say about it are exactly what I think – it’s too much in that competition: ‘Proper games, real opponents, it is better than having any friendlies’.
“That’s all good but you don’t want to see (Anthony) Joshua fighting every second night, it’s not possible. This week he fights in Leeds, next week he fights in Manchester and no-one asked for it. In American Football you have the summer break which is longer than our season, it’s not that long but it’s a real proper break.
“In basketball they have a summer league, and then come together. Only football everyone seems to be interested in now having only big competitions where you can get promoted or relegated, or when Wales play Ireland they play for something and the atmosphere in the stadium is different. Do we want to have opera every night or every two months?”
Klopp went on to suggest there was no room in football for the competition but is resigned to his opinion being ignored by football’s decision-makers.
“I like competition, of course, but at one point someone has to step back and think, ‘OK, wait, wait, wait. They are players who play’. If they don’t perform I am angry so how can we make sure they perform?
“The Nations League itself is a good idea, do it in another sport because in football there is no space for it. I realise already I could have told my coffee machine because no-one is really interested but it is still my opinion.”
Klopp ruled only Naby Keita – carried off with a hamstring problem with Guinea – definitely out of this evening’s trip to Huddersfield despite his lengthy injury list, including a broken thumb for Mane.
“We had yesterday’s session and a few of the boys trained, we have to see how they react after that,” he said. “It’s pretty sure Naby will not be. With all the rest, we have to see how it develops.”
Holland boss Ronald Koeman had suggested Virgil van Dijk was playing with two broken ribs and Klopp appeared not to dispute the fact, even while insisting his defensive colossus would be available at the John Smith’s. “Virg would not leave the pitch without a major problem. But it settled pretty quick. Football players often have to play with some kind of pain, that’s how it is. But we are all happy with him, he has no problems with that any more.”
Klopp will take his unbeaten side to a Huddersfield team sitting 18th in the league and without a home league goal this season. Indeed Klopp’s great friend David Wagner has watched his side score just one home Premier League goal since the middle of February.
But after wishing Wagner a happy 47th birthday, Klopp insisted he had already performed two miracles in Yorkshire.
“Getting promoted there, I use the words of a friend, is a miracle. Staying in the league is a miracle, and now this year if he stays in the league then he has a hat-trick of miracles.
“In this case we can say that. Liverpool could be managed by a lot of managers because they have a fantastic team and they are an outstanding club, but I don’t think any other manager in the world could do the job Dave has done at Huddersfield.”
Klopp believes the Terriers’ performances have deserved more this season and is wary of walking into “a trap”.
“There will be an outstanding atmosphere and we will need to be ready for a really tough game.”
Huddersfield Town v Liverpool, Live, BT Sport 1, 5.30