I WON’T BE BULLIED
Klopp: I’m making a stand... Why should I be at the replay?
DEFIANT Jurgen Klopp says it has become a point of principle for him not to be at Anfield for Liverpool’s FA Cup replay against Shrewsbury next week.
He will stand firm on his decision to field his under-23 team and put academy coach Neil Critchley in charge for the second time this season. And the Liverpool boss confirmed he not be in the directors’ box either, claiming staying away underlines his belief that the two-week winter break should not be disrupted. Liverpool have slashed prices for the visit of the League One club to £15 for adults and £1 for juniors. But Klopp was in no
mood to make apologies for his absence – or that of his entire first-team squad.
He said: “What difference would it make? Why should I be there? Give me a reason why I should. On the football side it’s clear, and the other thing is we have to make a stand.
“I really don’t understand I should be in the directors’ box just because people pay money to watch the game.
“If we react how we always react and find a way to do it, then nothing will change.
“I decided three weeks ago we would have a mid-season break based on a letter we got [from the FA] in April 2019. Although it wasn’t in the beginning, it’s now a principle thing.”
Critchley managed a youthful Liverpool side in a 5-0 League Cup defeat by Aston Villa in December when Klopp and his senior players were in Qatar for the Club World Cup.
“Could I be here for this game? Of course, I could,” added Klopp. “If people think I’m lazy for not being at the game, then I can’t change that.
“But that again is a complete misunderstanding of management and coaching.
“It makes no sense to me to work with them for two days, it’s about what’s best for them. They need their coach and it’s Critch. But we will try everything we can do to win the game and be in the next round.
“The mid-season break is something that has to be settled for the next years and all the different parties together have to find a solution that will not be like this year again.
“I don’t want to be in the middle of all these discussions. I’m not a revolution guy who wants to show the whole world how strong I can be.
“It’s absolutely not the reason. The only responsibility I feel is for my players and, to be 100 per cent honest, for all the players as well.
“If we find a way to do it then nothing will change and I think all people in football agree all things need to change. I think it’s necessary these boys, these all-time players who constantly play, get their time off.”
Liverpool will be without Sadio Mane at West ham tonight when they bid to stretch their lead at the top to 19 points in a rearranged fixture that was postponed when they were in Qatar.
The Senegal striker suffered a small tear to his hamstring during the win at Wolves last week and will miss tonight’s game at the London Stadium, the visit of Southampton on Saturday and the cup replay with Shrewsbury. But Klopp expects Mane to be fit after the winter break.
With the Hammers, who announced a £28million loss yesterday, desperate to avoid the drop, Klopp warned: “We have to be ready for a big fight. They are fighting to stay in the Premier League.”