KLOPP’S SPECIAL
PEP GUARDIOLA has claimed he’d rather face a Manchester United Marcus Rashford than without.
United and England star Rashford (below) is out of today’s Old Trafford derby as he recovers from a double stress fracture of his back.
The striker, 22, was devastating at The Etihad earlier this season, scoring a penalty and terrorising City with his pace as United won 2-1 in the league.
“I have always said since the first day I became a manager that I like to play against a full squad from my opponents,” said
Guardiola.
“I would have loved to play against Eden Hazard at the Bernabeu. And I don’t like to see
Rashford out or Harry Kane against Tottenham.
“I prefer to play against top players so it is not good for United and he is absent for the national team.
“I would have preferred if he had played for them but hopefully he can recover as quickly as possible.
“United still have top players and I’ll be thinking about which players they’ll use.” proud of himself after losing his cool with an assistant referee when Callum Wilson pushed Joe Gomez before scoring Bournemouth’s controversial opener.
Klopp then celebrated Mo Salah’s equaliser in front of the official and said: “Yes, that happened. Would I do it now? No.
“So I celebrated a bit in that direction but I’m not happy about it and I didn’t say anything.
“But in that moment I just don’t understand how it could be a goal and this shows the problem of VAR still exists.
“Mike Dean I am sure saw it is a foul but as fourth official it is not his job any more. VAR hides behind the phrase ‘clear and obvious’.”
And there was more good news for Klopp, who hopes to have Andy Robertson and captain Jordan Henderson back from injury against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday.