James Pearce has questioned Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp’s comment on Atletico Madrid after they were beaten in the Champions League, during a Q&A on The Athletic.
What did he say?
After the Reds were knocked out of the Champions League by Diego Simeone’s side, Klopp said: “I don’t understand, with the quality they have, the football they play. They could play proper football, but they stand deep and have counter-attacks.”
This has caused debate among some fans, especially as he referenced “proper football”, something that shows idealism at its best and snobbery at its worst.
Pearce had his say on the matter: “I think if Klopp could rewind the clock he would take back those comments. He was smarting from a painful defeat. Defending is an art and there is no “proper” way to play football.
“I’ve watched many Liverpool performances away in Europe over the years which were brilliantly executed backs-to-the-wall displays. I was in the Nou Camp in 2001 for a 0-0 draw when I don’t remember Houllier’s Liverpool having a shot and Fowler spent most of the second half playing as a second right-back. Benitez’s Liverpool were also adept at being compact and just shutting up shot when they played away in Europe.
“Atletico rode their luck at Anfield the other night. They should have been swept aside in normal time because Liverpool created more than enough chances. But they hung on in there and then punished an awful mistake from Adrian. The timing of that error was awful because it arrived just when for the first time in the tie Atletico had to chase the game.”
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Poor from Klopp
This type of comment from Klopp is not great to see, as it can be argued that a massive part of football’s beauty is the various ways in which it can be played.
While watching swashbuckling football is entertaining, seeing an organised and determined defensive unit stand in unison to keep out some of the world’s best attackers can be just as intriguing and effective.
Simeone is a master of this, having won two Europa Leagues, a La Liga title and reached the Champions League final and Klopp was on the end of that on the night – Atleti weren’t even at their best.
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Worst of all, this comment completely dismisses some of Liverpool’s great European results, as has been mentioned by Pearce.
Therefore, while Klopp has achieved great things at Liverpool, he should probably try to refrain from making more comments of this nature about a manager and team who have clearly found a way of playing that works for them.
Meanwhile, one Liverpool man is in danger of fading into the background.