Let’s admit it: Klopp is right
Jurgen Klopp has again spoken out against the congested Christmas fixture schedule, emphasising that playing on the 26th and 28th of December is ‘not right’, saying there are simple solutions to this problem.
Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s game against Leicester City on Tuesday night, the German told reporters: “Playing on the 26th and 28th, it’s just not right. I just say that because it is true.
“I think you can find solutions for that. It’s not that difficult to play football in a slightly different way. 26th and 29th, where is the problem?
“Some teams are doing that,” Klopp added, referencing arch rivals Manchester United, who play tonight (Monday 27th) and then against Burnley on Thursday 30th.
Klopp continued: “The problem is now obviously, some teams definitely have a proper Covid problem at the moment, and then you rush a smaller group of players through two games…”
The Reds boss was keen to highlight that is is not opposed to Boxing Day matches, but it is the congestion of sequential games is has an issue with.
“Boxing Day is never in doubt,” he said. “We all want to play on Boxing Day, actually. It’s a great fixture, everyone loves it. It’s great for the people, it’s great for the players. Really good for everybody.
“But then after that… We will not stop discussing [it], because if we don’t discuss it, it just stays like this.
“Maybe it stays anyway like this… The players need help and help needs to come from other areas.”
🗣 "If we don't discuss it, it just stays like this."#LFC manager Jurgen Klopp has once again called into question playing football on Boxing Day and the 28th December and says that players need help when it comes to the fixture schedule 🗓 pic.twitter.com/DF6NyGyRP3
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 27, 2021
It’s hard to disagree with Klopp’s analysis here.
At any other time of year, the notion that teams should play Saturday and Monday, for example, would be heavily scrutinised. But in England, tradition appears to trump all logic, even at a time when the issue of players’ fitness is compounded by a highly contagious variant of Covid-19.
