Jurgen Klopp to Carlo Ancelotti: “This is criminal”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp called Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti and spoke of the ‘criminal’ act he’d been forced to undertake.
The Reds played Atletico Madrid in the second-leg of the last-16 Champions League game just as COVID-19 was about to rear its ugly head in the UK.
Klopp had already shown his displeasure with the authorities over the match, which saw journalists and the team flying over from Spain to England while their own country was battling to cope with the escalating pandemic.
That could easily have spread the virus around – and the German manager confided in Ancelotti. Goal reported that he said.
"“I spoke with Klopp a few days ago, he told me that the decision to play Liverpool-Atletico was a criminal act and I think he’s right.”"
Klopp lost that game after extra-time. Adrian played instead of the injured Alisson and was responsible for the floodgates opening and Atletico winning the game.
Roberto Firmino had briefly put Liverpool ahead, before Madrid unleashed fury and dragged themselves back into the game and then over the finishing line.
Klopp is not saying that COVID-19 was at fault for the loss. He’s not saying Liverpool should still be in the Champions League or that the Reds wouldn’t have been defeated had the pandemic not been present.
He’s just saying it was foolish of the continental authorities to allow the game to continue and that’s a very different factor.
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Liverpool will now not take part in any domestic football until April 30 at the earliest, although we’re kidding ourselves if we think they are going to be back on the pitch in a little over a month.
With just six more points required to win the Premier League, we’re all excited to get back to domestic football and secure the first league victory in 30 years – but everyone understands this is a once in a generation matter.