Klopp warns subs: You can’t all start
JURGEN KLOPP has warned Liverpool’s fringe players about the need to show respect and will not tolerate anyone putting personal interests first.
Liverpool’s manager has a big squad to manage and recognises there will be many points soon when he becomes unpopular due to the squads he selects. There was an example for the opening game against West Ham when Alberto Moreno and Dominic Solanke were cut from the 18-man party.
The bench was also full of players who would expect to be starters — most notably captain Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana and £43.7million signing Fabinho — and how Klopp deals with this issue will be key to the early stages of the campaign.
While he understands players will feel disappointed, Klopp will not accept any situation where those who are out of the team disrupt the harmony of the group. It is why he has demanded everyone put the team at the forefront of their thoughts.
‘I can’t make people happy, I never could,’ said Klopp. ‘Whatever happens on August 31 — I think that is the last (transfer) window, though maybe Russia and China are open — there will be a specific point where it is clear that is the squad for the next four months until January. Who cannot be happy in these four months being part of the squad at Liverpool?
‘I cannot help them. What I can do is everyone who trains on his highest level has a big chance to be an important part of the team, to stay in the team and all these things. That makes us happy.
‘There are more difficult things in life than not being in a match squad for a Sunday or Saturday; there are much more difficult problems in the world... I see it like that and you always have a chance to change the situation when you are part of the squad.’
Klopp is sympathetic to those who want to leave before the window closes to get regular football and he has sanctioned the £ 2m sale of veteran defender Ragnar Klavan. The Estonian is to join Serie A side Cagliari once he has completed a medical.
There are others who will look to move, such as Lazar Markovic and goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, but if the window closes and they have remained on Merseyside the last thing Klopp wants to see is any kind of negativity.
‘It is not about my decision,’ said Klopp. ‘I made the last decision — yes or no. But, before that, there are plenty of things that the players are responsible for. That is not a problem. The ideal size of the squad is 11 and no one injured. Then they are all happy — a little bit exhausted but all happy!
‘If you have 12 then you already have one who thinks, “Why am I out?” That is how it is. Everything will be fine, but if someone has a problem with it he will have a problem with me because he does not respect the situation.’
WATCHING BRIEF: Crystal Palace v Liverpool, Sky Sports, Monday 8pm.