FA Cup-Manchester City-Liverpool: Klopp, the obsession with the heavier calendar

If you search the archives, you will have no trouble finding data from Jürgen Klopp complaining about the timeline. It’s simple: the Liverpool coach attacks almost every year with a rhythm that he judges.hellish“For him and his team. For example, at the end of 2016, the German technician publicly attacked the traditional” Boxing Day “, in other words, the crime of self-humiliation.

“I don’t know what you think, but playing 31 and then 2 is not the best idea in the world“He had gone down in particular. The same thing three years later, in November 2019, when his team was going to play the Coupe de la Ligue quarter-final a month later, at the same time as the Club World Cup in Qatar.”We asked Aston Villa if they would like to join us“It was ironic. The same at the time of the aborted Premier League project:”You can’t always add more contests. It is very good that the new Super League is no longer on the table, but the new Champions League format is not great.“

The latest example so far this week, when Klopp criticized the match schedule against Newcastle, scheduled for Saturday 30 April at 12:30pm, between the semi-final first leg and the return leg against Villarreal. “If you want to cause us trouble, just text us at 12.30 in NewcastleContrition. I do not understand that. I can understand people who want to watch a football match between Liverpool and Newcastle, but I don’t understand why the team should have an advantage or a disadvantage.Its leaders have gone from word to action by asking authorities, according to The Athletic, to postpone the meeting.

Bad experience last season

If Liverpool have been wary of the calendar, it is also because it cost them dearly last season, especially during the winter period. The four draws against Fulham, Crystal Palace, West Brom and Newcastle, along with the defeat at Southampton, marked the turning point in the Reds’ Premier League season. And while the confrontation with Manchester City threatens to come off at the lowest point this season, Klopp wants to preserve his forces and their feathers. Especially since everyone dreams of a historic four-way game, and this is always possible before the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday against the Nationals.

“The university and the broadcaster should help a littleKlopp argued. We’ll see. I haven’t heard anything yet. No one from BT Sport (Premier League broadcaster, editor’s note) has contacted me yet. But you have to use common senseAt the current stage of matters, Liverpool will therefore face City this Saturday, then Manchester United on April 19, Everton on the 24th, Villarreal on the 27th, Newcastle on the 30th and Villarreal on May 3. For the German coach, this schedule is simply “unfair“And he risks jeopardizing his goal of taking everything.

The city is not happy either

In the whirlwind looming for Liverpool, Klopp could count on a larger workforce than last season. Luis Diaz came to boost his workforce in January, just like Ibrahima Konate last summer, then various Harvey Elliott, Divock Origi or Takumi Minamino can also make their contributions. And the second knives managed to rise to the occasion when they were called up, as evidenced by the win over AC Milan in the final match of the Champions League group stage. The Reds have already qualified, winning at San Siro (1-3) with a largely overhauled team.

The composition of Liverpool against Milan: Alisson – Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson – Henderson (cap), Fabinho, Keita – Salah, Jota, Mane.

Ahead of Saturday’s clash with City, Liverpool Klopp can also count on the freshness of some executives. Indeed, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk started on the bench in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Benfica on Wednesday (3-3). On the contrary, Guardiola admitted that City were “big problemsAfter a hard 0-0 draw with Atletico Madrid, where injured Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker missed, and Phil Foden finished the match with a bandage on his head.

“crazy calendarexpressed his regret for the Spanish player Rodri. We played these two matches against Atletico, a few days ago against Liverpool. It should work 100% and now we have Liverpool again, many tough matches at the same time, but that’s how it isWhen asked about this, Klopp confirmed thatI do not know“If his team had a real advantage, considering that the two matches were”Intenseand ‘test’. Clever, that’s Jürgen…