KLOPP: I DON’T DECIDE COUTINHO’S LIVERPOOL FUTURE
I don’t decide Coutinho’s Liverpool future, says Klopp
LONDON: Juergen Klopp insists Philippe Coutinho’s Liverpool future will be determined by the club’s owners as Barcelona bid to land the wantaway Brazil star.
Coutinho is keen to join Barcelona and the Reds forward submitted a transfer request 24 hours before Liverpool opened their English Premier League campaign with a 3-3 draw at Watford on Saturday.
The 25-year-old, who missed the trip to Vicarage Road with a back problem, is Barcelona’s top target to replace Neymar following the Brazilian’s world record switch to Paris St Germain.
Barca had a £90mil (RM503mil) bid for Coutinho rejected this week, prompting the player’s decision to demand a move.
But Liverpool’s US-based owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), insisted in a statement on Friday that Coutinho will not be allowed to leave Anfield at any price.
Quizzed about the situation following the Watford match, Reds boss Klopp maintained Coutinho’s future is out of his hands.
“As a manager of a football club I have bosses, and if bosses decide, for example, we sell a player or we don’t sell him, then I have to accept it. If they don’t sell him, then I’m not involved anymore,” Klopp said.
“I’m responsible for all of players, not just one, two or three. I cannot say anything about it.
“The only thing is I work with the players I have, that is what I’m always doing. So how it change something for me? I didn’t make the decision.”
Asked if Coutinho’s transfer request could change the club’s stance, Klopp added: “You have to ask the club. I didn’t see the club today – those people.
“You have to ask them. But I don’t think so because I think it was pretty clear what the club, FSG, said about it.”
The Coutinho controversy added to Klopp’s frustration after Liverpool squandered the chance to claim an opening day victory by conceding a stoppage-time equaliser.
But he was pleased with Mohamed Salah’s second half display following the Egypt winger’s move from AS Roma.
“He was involved in the penalty, and scored a goal,” Klopp said.
“In the beginning everyone could see he struggled a bit against Jose Holebas, a really strong man, he was a little bit too much on the wing, things like this.
“We spoke about it at half-time and second half was much better.”
Klopp was less impressed with Liverpool’s defending at set-pieces that led to two of Watford’s goals.
“We had our moments, then we conceded an offside goal,” he said.
“”That’s really not fun. Difficult to accept. But we know we can do better and we have to do better.” — AFP