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Jurgen Klopp’s recent mind games are reminiscent of Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, according to Rio Ferdinand, who claims that the Liverpool manager is trying to divert attention from his players.
The German embarked on a strange spiel after Liverpool’s 1-1 draw at Brighton in his post-match television interview, blaming BT Sport for the Premier League match congestion after James Milner was injured.
Klopp has complained about the crash on several occasions this season and has described the schedule as a ‘crime’ as his team continues to suffer from fitness issues. Goalkeeper Alisson has become the latest victim after a hamstring strain, while he has also lost Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold of late.
The Reds still managed to slip away from a 1-0 win over Ajax in the Champions League despite their depleted numbers. After the game, Ferdinand said Klopp was making the comments to ease pressure from his stars and compared the tactic to his legendary former United boss Ferguson.
Ferdinand played 432 games with the 13-time Premier League winner, and said the Scotsman helped ‘control the narrative’ with outbursts in the media, something he claimed Klopp was doing ‘very well’.
‘Sometimes he (Ferguson) would talk as a team after a game and he was as calm as you wanted and then he would go out for an interview and we would see him on the television screen and he would go crazy for a decision that nobody had thought of,’ ‘he said in BT.
But that took the attention away from someone else or something else that could derail us. He controlled the narrative and I think that’s what Klopp is doing really well right now.
“Maybe sometimes he’s talking about things outside of that (game) that can affect the performance or the little crunches that happen within 90 minutes.”
His colleague, expert Peter Crouch, agreed that the best coaches are adept at “getting an advantage” and creating a “you versus us” mentality.
“Sir Alex Ferguson, over the years, always talked about international football and the match list (after matches),” he said.
‘[Jose] Mourinho too. All the best managers do it and are trying to get a head start.
Everyone wants to have one. I think it helps in the locker room (that mentality) ‘that everyone is against us because we are the best and nobody is going to help us.’
“I think that helps in your locker room against us.”
Liverpool are still second in the table despite injury issues, but that didn’t stop Klopp from unleashing his fury during an eight-minute round trip with Kelly.
The 53-year-old turned the presenter around and said BT was responsible for causing Liverpool’s injuries because they ‘choose’ the start times.
“Well, you work for them,” Klopp told Kelly. ‘I don’t know how often I have to say it, but you choose the 12:30 games.
Between now and December there is a Wednesday, Saturday more. These are hard times. I just say it like it is. Wednesday through Saturday at 12:30 is really dangerous. ‘
But despite Kelly’s explanation that the Premier League has the last word, Klopp responded once again as part of his fiery spiel.
He added: ‘Why did you pick us against Crystal Palace then? You trust things that we agreed to at another time.
“When we had the talk between the managers a week ago, it was 15-5 if not 16-4 for five substitutes, since then nothing happened.”
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
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