Klopp: Games without fans won’t diminish glory of title
Liverpool boss accepts it’s not ‘perfect package’ as six positive tests emerge ahead of return
LIVERPOOL boss Jurgen Klopp insists the spectacle of empty stadiums will not lessen the intensity of any team if the Premier League resumes in June.
Top-flight players are returning to training this week after the clubs voted unanimously to do so at a shareholders’ meeting on Monday.
Liverpool have more reason than most for wanting the 2019-’20 campaign to conclude as they need just two more wins to capture a first Premier League title.
And while Klopp acknowledged that keeping fans away from Anfield is far from ideal, he thinks the Bundesliga’s restart proved that the competition and will to win isn’t lessened by the absence of spectators.
The former Borussia Dortmund boss said: “The perfect package of football is a full, packed Anfield stadium, two really good teams, big fight, super goals and at the end Liverpool win. But Anfield will not be packed for a while, so that’s what we have to accept. The competition will make the intensity.
“So it’s not about. ‘Oh, Liverpool have to win two games’. We want to play the best possible football, better than other teams fighting for the Champions League, fighting to stay in the league.”
Asked about his reaction to learning clubs would be allowed to train again, Klopp said: “I was over the moon. It will be intense, for the coaches especially because a lot of players in small groups means a lot of sessions, but we’ve had enough time to rest.”
There was good news for Klopp and his players yesterday when just six positive results were confirmed from the 748 coronavirus tests that have been carried out ahead of the crucial first phase of the return to training.
The six are from three clubs, with 19 of the 20 clubs tested and results still due from Norwich. One of those confirmed as positive is Burnley assistant manager Ian Woan. Those affected must self-isolate for seven days.
Players and staff at Norwich were tested only on Monday and their results will be included in the next announcement scheduled for later this week.
The number of positives is in line with what would be expected, and may allay players’ fears about the protocols for social distancing at training, with a number of clubs returning on Monday ahead of a restart to matches which has been shifted from June 12 to June 19, if next steps can be agreed.
The ratio amounts to 0.8 per cent across the Premier League testing pool, but if it had been higher it would have caused problems for the return-to-training plans.
The identity of those affected and their clubs and whether they are players or other staff has not been disclosed. Some clubs did not use their full allocation of tests for up to 40 people. (© Daily Telegraph, London)