It’s my fault, really
Pep Guardiola took responsibility for placing his trust in winger Riyad Mahrez who missed an 86th-minute penalty that cost Manchester City victory in a 0-0 draw at Liverpool on Sunday. “I see him every day in the training sessions and it gave me a lot of confidence. He had the courage to take the penalty, in training he shoots perfect penalties but sometimes it happens,” said Guardiola. City remain top of the table on goal difference, but both teams are now locked with Chelsea, who were 3-0 winners earlier at Southampton.
LIVERPOOL: Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp took aim at UEFA’s new Nations League competition, labelling it “senseless”, after his side headed into the international break with a home draw against Premier League leaders Manchester City.
Klopp and his City counterpart Pep Guardiola were satisfied with their team’s displays in a tight, tactical encounter which finished 0-0 at Anfield on Sunday, but the German was clearly frustrated to now lose his players for international duty.
The Nations League was introduced this year by European football’s governing body UEFA largely to replace friendly matches with competitive games in a mini-group format.
“Now the players go off and play the Nations League which is the most senseless competition in the world of football,” said Klopp, who urged the football authorities to look at the issue of players being overused.
“We have to start thinking about the players. You have to call the manager of any country and say, ‘Can you leave players out?’ and he says, ‘I am under pressure as well’,” said Klopp.
He noted that his England midfielder Jordan Henderson had barely two weeks’ rest following the World Cup in Russia.
The German coach was pleased with a point from Sunday’s top of the table clash with City, which left the pair level with Chelsea on 20 points and ahead of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
“And Arsenal are two points behind and they won six games in a row. It looks like they are in a good shape,” said Klopp.
“If somebody had told me after eight fixtures 20 points I’d say yes but with this fixture list I would buy it,” he added.
“I am really happy with what the boys did. I thought how we defended was brilliant. We have played City often and they are outstanding. It was really intense and both showed respect for the other team,” he said.