KLOPP: EU CAN’T GO!
even if the duo have recovered, it’s too risky to sanction their participation at the delayed Euros which start on June 11.
“It’s not my decision but to be honest the information I have at the moment, it will be unlikely” says Klopp.
“Not that I don’t let them go because I don’t want to do that anyway. It’s because of the extent of the injuries.” VaDutchman Van Dijk is running again after suffering a torn cruciate ligament in October’s Merseyside derby.
Gomez, 23, isn’t far behind in his recovery from a torn tendon in his left knee sustained while training with England in November.
Fellow defender Joel Matip is also a long-term absentee, and Klopp sees no quick return for him either: “We all hope they will be ready to start pre-season with us.
“But we should not forget these are really serious injuries.
“It’s not about saying which competition they can play in. I am always open for positive surprises, but nobody has told me that they are nearly ready.
“The two of them look at the moment better than Joel does because he is still in something like a ski boot.
“Joe is starting running, Virgil is already running but this is really a tough one. We will be completely over the moon when they are ready to train with us for the start of pre-season.
“The Euros, I don’t think about it. When do you have to be back to play in the Euros? The week before, the day it starts? I don’t know.”
COVENTRY CITY legend
Steve Ogrizovic is expecting a fans’ party when the Sky Blues get back to the Ricoh Arena next season.
The club have finally agreed a deal with ground owners Wasps to end nine years of rows and ill-feeling. A 10-year deal is in place with a break clause after seven, if a planned new Sky Blues stadium and training complex is ready near Warwick University.
Ogrizovic (right) was Coventry’s keeper on the greatest day in the club’s history, winning the FA Cup in 1987, and played 507 Sky Blue games in 16 years with the club.
He said: “The Coventry fans have missed so much.
“They haven’t even been able to celebrate getting promotion to the Championship – and they have still not seen second-tier football since 2012, though the club has climbed back through League Two and League One.
“There’s a job to be done first, to stay up. But I think they can do that and then the fans can have a party back at the Ricoh at the first home game of next season.” The 2021-22 EFL season will kick off with a televised match live on Friday, August 6, and Oggy is hoping City will be that pick.
“It’s a tremendous incentive to make sure that Coventry City are in the Championship – and finally take that level of football back to the Ricoh.”
IT’S the north London derby today – but whatever happens at the Emirates, I don’t think there will be a ‘Spursy’ collapse by Tottenham on the run-in.
Arsenal can close the gap on their neighbours to four points with a win. But I don’t fancy Mikel
Arteta’s chances of finishing above Jose Mourinho – and grabbing the St Totteringham’s Day bragging rights that became an annual treat for Gunners’ fans under Arsene Wenger.
I’m a big admirer of Mourinho (left). There remains something a bit special about him and he will be disappointed that his team still has some work to do to finish in the top four.
But Spurs seem to have got a second wind in recent weeks – winning their last five games in all competitions. Arsenal on the other hand have become a study in inconsistency.
That will be driving Arteta mad – and he will go into this derby knowing Mourinho will have put in place a plan that neutralises the Gunners’ attacking strengths and exposes their defensive flaws.