Jürgen Klopp has said the only advice he can give Pep Guardiola about the Premier League is to prepare for a draining fixture schedule, admitting he was unaware the Capital One Cup semi-final was over two legs before he arrived at Liverpool.
The manager lamented the addition of another game to an already hectic programme after drawing at Exeter City in the FA Cup third round on Friday. Liverpool’s Europa League campaign also resumes next month and he believes the intensity of the fixture list, not the intensity of his playing style or training methods, is culpable for Anfield’s extensive injury list.
Klopp received congratulatory messages from friends in Germany following Liverpool’s Capital One Cup semi-final win at Stoke City last week. They assumed he had led Liverpool to Wembley with the 1-0 first leg win at the Britannia Stadium and have also been surprised that drawn FA Cup ties result in a replay rather than extra time and penalties.
Asked what advice he would give to Guardiola, who has announced his intention to leave the Bundesliga for the Premier League this summer, the former Borussia Dortmund coach said: “I don’t have to tell Pep Guardiola anything because he is that experienced. [BUT]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 last week 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, 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.
“Pep is so experienced, for sure. I’m sure he will buy a few players and have a good team, have 35 players or whatever! What I can say about here is very positive. It’s a great country, great people, the food is much better than everybody said and the weather is not great, like everyone said.”
Liverpool have recalled the goalkeeper Danny Ward from his loan spell at Aberdeen after impressing while in Scotland.
(Guardian service)
