Jurgen Klopp: No fan for UEFA Nations League

Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-08 22:32:05|Editor: Yurou
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LONDON, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The international break may mean a two-week suspension from club football, but Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp is unhappy that so many of his key players will be involved in competitive football with their respective national teams in the coming days.

The next 10 days see most national teams play a mixture of friendlies, and also in the newly formed UEFA Nations League, which was created to give more meaning to international matches.

Liverpool ended a run of seven games in 23 days with a 0-0 draw at home to Manchester City on Sunday and in the British press on Monday, the German coach was pleased with a start to the season which leaves his team level on 20 points with Sunday's rivals Chelsea.

"If somebody had told me after eight match days you have 20 points, I would say with that fixture list, I'll buy it," said Klopp.

However, he admitted he was frustrated his players won't be getting the rest he thinks they need.

"The boys unfortunately go away again now and have to play Nations League games - the most senseless competition in the world of football!" he commented, explaining the new tournament means it's harder for national team bosses to rest players

"Now you call a manager of any country and ask him to leave out one or two players and he says, 'I am under pressure as well' because now it's Nations League," he said.

"Somebody has to start thinking of the players, because without them this game is difficult to play," commented the Liverpool coach, who believes some players are suffering from a lack of rest after a summer which included the World Cup finals.

"If you want to see fresher (players), give them a summer break - for Jordan Henderson (Liverpool midfielder) it was exactly two weeks, which is funny. But that's how it is," he concluded.

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