Jurgen Klopp, the outgoing manager of Liverpool, has launched a scathing attack on the state of English football, criticizing the overworked nature of the Premier League. Klopp’s criticism comes in the wake of several English teams, including his own, failing to progress past the quarter-final stage in European competitions this season. Aston Villa, the last remaining English team in Europe, also suffered a 4-2 defeat in the first leg of their Europa Conference League tie against Olympiacos, indicating a potential struggle for them to reach the final.
Klopp has long been a critic of fixture scheduling and the excessive workloads placed on players throughout the season. As he prepares to leave Liverpool at the end of the campaign, he has expressed his thoughts on the current state of English football. He highlighted the fact that if Aston Villa were to be eliminated from the competition, no English team would be in any European final. Klopp believes that this lack of success cannot simply be attributed to underperformance, but rather to the intense demands on players. He acknowledged that there may be instances where teams fall short, such as Liverpool’s defeat to Atalanta in this season’s Champions League, but emphasized that overall, the Premier League is still the best league in the world.
In his critique, Klopp directed his ire at various entities associated with football, including broadcasters, the Premier League, administrators, and FIFA. He mocked recent decisions to remove the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final and abolish FA Cup replays to accommodate an extended Champions League campaign. Klopp argued that cutting off just one game does not adequately address the issue at hand. He also took aim at broadcasters like TNT and Sky, suggesting that they need to become partners of football rather than exploiters. He urged a change in approach, referencing a time when four English teams reached the quarter-finals of European competitions and used it as evidence of the Premier League’s quality.
Klopp further criticized the fixture congestion faced by teams, highlighting a specific example of Liverpool playing on Thursday, Sunday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 12:30, which he described as a “crime.” He expressed frustration with the lack of consideration for player welfare and even humorously mentioned waiting for Amnesty International to intervene. Klopp’s passionate stance on these issues stems not only from Liverpool’s recent situation but from a broader concern about the general problem within English football.
When asked about his future plans, Klopp dismissed the idea of pursuing a job in football administration. He acknowledged that the sport needs individuals with knowledge and experience, but he jokingly remarked that he wouldn’t survive in the “sea of sharks” that exists within FIFA. Klopp highlighted the need for collective action to bring about meaningful change and criticized the mindset of others who assume everything will be fine because players earn millions. He mentioned receiving an award from the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) for speaking up for players’ rights and promoting their work off the field. The PFA praised Klopp for his advocacy and contribution to the game.
In light of Klopp’s criticism, it remains to be seen how football authorities and broadcasters will respond. The focus on player welfare and finding a balance between domestic and European fixtures will likely continue to be a hot topic within English football. With his departure from Liverpool imminent, Klopp’s words carry weight and contribute to the ongoing conversation surrounding the state of the game.