Why Jurgen Klopp reacted with delight when Philippe Coutinho was sold

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According to Catalan news outlet Sport, Jurgen Klopp was delighted to sell Philippe Coutinho at the price Liverpool managed – because he was well aware he didn’t fit into the style of play the Reds employ.

The report claims Klopp was more than happy to cash in on the Brazilian – and given the funds were spent on the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson in the months after the sale, it worked out pretty well.

The boss prefers a 4-3-3 system – as do Barcelona – and the belief was that Coutinho does not fit into that particularly well. Given his time in Spain has not gone perfectly so far, it seems that might have been proven correct.

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Sport’s report says while Klopp knew that Coutinho was a world-class talent, he never truly fitted into his high-pressing, high-intensity style of play.

While in Spain, Coutinho has been played wide left in a front three and in central midfield, but has not shown his full potential in either position. During the game with Rayo Vallecano at the weekend, some Barca fans were jeering him for another poor performance.

If the report is correct, that will certainly end the small glimmer of a possibility of Coutinho returning to Anfield, although that was always unlikely given the manner in which he forced his way out.

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