Klopp admits not knowing rules of FA Cup and League Cup

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Jurgen Klopp didn’t know there were two League Cup semi-final legs, and many back in Germany were also unaware you had to play FA Cup replays as well!

The German was discussing his start to life in England, and his feelings about our football and the country.

Again, Klopp took time to mention the intensive run of fixtures, which has stifled his ability to work with players on the training field, but also contributed to our hefty injury list. (We’re currently on 11 ahead of crunch Premier League ties with Arsenal and Manchester United.)

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“I have had a similar situation before with injuries, but with the winter break, they come back,” Klopp began, reported by the Echo.

“That’s the biggest difference. The number of games is the biggest difference.

“When I came here, I didn’t know there were two rounds in the semi-final of the Capital One Cup.

“I had people in Germany, saying ‘yeah, you’re in the final again!’ Idiots!

“In Germany, when you tell people about the FA Cup that if you draw you play again. They say ‘what?’ Here you have penalties and extra time, but only after the second game.

“That’s the thing, it’s the number of games, football, football, football. With a perfect pre-season you are prepared for a long, long journey.

“We knew about it, but to feel it is different.

“What I can say about here is very positive, great country, great people, the food is much better than everybody said.

“Okay, the weather is not great – like everyone said!”

It’s no surprise that Klopp is taking time to adapt to his new life in a new country, but we’re glad he’s settling in and ultimately enjoying the experience.

The boss probably has a point regarding the number of matches – especially in the League Cup and FA Cup – but it’s not going to change any time soon and it’s the same for everybody else.

A full pre-season would have certainly helped, which begs the questions why we didn’t just bring Klopp in during the summer instead of letting Brendan Rodgers spend a large whack of our transfer funds only to sack him 11 games later.

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