Who remembers Dutch coach Raymond Verheijen?
The former Wales assistant manager made headlines last winter then again over the summer as he lashed out at Klopp’s training methods, saying they were responsible for our massive injury crisis at the start of 2016.
“Liverpool manager Klopp caused 20 hamstring injuries in 10 months but keeps blaming external factors for injuries,” he tweeted at the time (Echo).
Klopp mocked him as part of an interview about our Christmas fixture list. We play twice in 48 hours over the New Year – against Man City at Anfield then against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light – and our boss thinks those rigours are far more responsible for injuries than his training sessions.
“I don’t know why we play Monday. Is January 2 a special day in England?” he said.
“Forty-eight hours between two games – how does this work? And then you will sit there and say: ‘You didn’t perform too well, how did this happen?’ or ‘Injuries. Oh?’ Then this Dutch guy says: ‘The training is not too good’.”
“How do you prepare a team for this? Do you say: ‘Only 50% against City because we have Sunderland on Monday?’.
“It doesn’t sound like it is right. Everyone is asking: ‘Why England is not too successful in big tournaments?’
“Ask what other big countries are doing at this time. They have their legs on the sofa and are watching English football.”
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What do you think about the Christmas schedule? Are you the type of person who wants to see as much football as possible in the festive season, or do you think a sensible compromise needs to be reached? Let us know in the comments section below!