Jurgen Klopp has explained in no uncertain terms that he thinks the current scheduling for international fixtures is moronic.
Liverpool will have to play the entirety of April without our best player this season Adam Lallana, after the midfielder picked up an injury for England against Lithuania, having played against Manchester City and Germany during the previous six days.
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We’ll be compensated with his wages being paid for us, but that’s really very small reward when you consider how important he is and that if he hadn’t have played for his country in a friendly and a walkover qualifier, he’d likely be fit for us…
Klopp’s explained the stupidity of international football right now very clearly…
“Whoever thought it was a good idea to play City & Liverpool on a Sunday & then Germany vs England on Wednesday – makes no sense,” he told Sky Sports.
“We all have to start to work much better together: the FA, league, television & the clubs as we’re trying to sell the best product.
“City & Liverpool was one of the most intense games in the league. So you can’t have the games like that then Germany vs England.
“Friendly games at this stage of the season? Someone wants to tell me it’s important as we’ll learn something about the players.
“8 weeks from now we have more friendly. Players should have a holiday but they’re playing friendly games for their national teams.
“I don’t blame anybody for this especially not Gareth Southgate – I like him, we’ve had a few meetings. I respect it’s his decision.
“The media put him under pressure to pick the best line-up. If he left Lallana out the press would have asked ‘do you want to win?'”
Why are we playing friendlies with a few months left of the season? Why are England paired in a group with Lithuania and Malta…? Who’s enjoying it? Who’s benefitting?
Like Klopp said, it’s not Southgate’s fault. He has to pick his best teams, but wouldn’t it make so much more sense for the season to be shortened and all international football to be played in a block at the end? Players would get the same amount of rest and fans would be able to enjoy both domestic football and then switch to international mode.
It’ll never happen, but it should.