For someone who insisted he wasn’t complaining, it certainly sounded like Jurgen Klopp was complaining about the lack of dialogue with Wales manager Chris Coleman regarding Ben Woodburn’s first international call-up.
Wales take on the Republic of Ireland this weekend and Liverpool’s Woodburn was included in the squad but the 17-year-old’s club manager admits he was taken aback by the fact that he wasn’t consulted by anyone in the Welsh camp.
“Actually, I was surprised about this,” Klopp said, with quotes appearing on BBC.com.
Woodburn, who has made seven appearances for Klopp’s side this season, qualifies for Wales through his maternal grandfather and has played for the underage teams right the way through from Under-15 level.
He’s clearly made an impression on Coleman, after becoming the youngest ever Liverpool goalscorer with his EFL Cup strike against Leeds earning him that honour last November.
But Klopp wishes he’d been given the courtesy of a phonecall from Coleman, at the very least.
“I don’t know exactly how normal it is here,” the German added.
“This should not be a criticism, but usually when you call up a player, a 17-year-old player, I thought it would be possible to call me.
“I’m not sure if he knows him well. He didn’t play in the team so far for Coleman I think.”
The future is bright for Woodburn, a forward, but Klopp wonders if it’s a bit too soon for him to feature at senior international level, in spite of his progress on Merseyside.
“Obviously Ben is happy about it, so I am happy about it so that is the first thing,” Klopp said.
“Do I think [Woodburn’s selection for Wales] should it be now? I would say probably not. But is it a problem? No.
“Ben is a wonderful kid and he can deal with it 100%. He understands it all and knows really what he still has to learn and I can understand.”
Coleman, meanwhile, has dismissed Klopp’s concerns in no uncertain terms as he has pointed out that he will not be swayed on who to pick and who not to pick by a player’s club manager.
“I make my own mind up about a player,” Coleman said.
“I understand when you pick young players then clubs go, ‘Oh, calm down,’ but I make my own mind up.
“No matter how old he is, if he is good enough and I think he has something to offer us and can help us in this challenge then I am going to pick him.
“That’s no disrespect to Jurgen or anybody else who say maybe he’s not [ready], but that’s their opinion.”
