LIVERPOOL MANAGER JURGEN Klopp has retracted his invitation to Liverpool fans to travel to the Europa League final in Basel even if they do not have tickets.
After his side booked a showpiece meeting against Sevilla by beating Villarreal at Anfield on Thursday, Klopp urged as many Liverpool supporters as possible to travel: “Basel has a wonderful stadium and is a wonderful city. It’s worth going there even if you don’t have a ticket.”
But following Liverpool’s 2-0 Premier League win at home against Watford on Sunday — Joe Allen and Roberto Firmino with the goals — Klopp took back his previous statement in an impassioned plea at the start of his press conference.
“Last time I spoke about Basel, I spoke like a supporter. I invited all Liverpool fans to Basel – that was not too smart, to be honest,” the German said. “Basel is a nice city but it is not ready for us — it was my mistake. I have to take back the invitation.
“Please only people with tickets go there, because everything else would be chaos and we don’t want this. We have to concentrate on football. If you cannot be there, stay at home or come to Liverpool, watch the game with your friends and let’s have a party afterwards.
“So that’s really, really, really necessary now that you listen. Most of the time you can ignore what I say, but now it’s really important. We have to send just the team plus 10,000. The rest, all over the world, can enjoy the game with best friends and family.”
Liverpool had released a statement earlier on Sunday, pleading with fans without tickets for the game not to travel to the Swiss city.
The club said: “Liverpool has fans all over the world and the club wants to make them aware that the surrounding infrastructure in Basle is only set up for match attendees. Transport will be restricted and all local accommodation is sold out.”
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Neil Warnock is picked up swearing in every live broadcast, why aren’t all held to the same standard?
There’s some library of “Mourinho looking miserable” stock photos.
@Sean: ah he’s just blowing you a kiss
I’m not Mourinho’s biggest fan but certain managers can abuse opposition players and dance in the face of officials and not get charged.
Mourinho says something inaudible and in a different language and he gets charged.
He’s certainly not flavour of the month.
Can’t stand Mourinho as a manager but this PC brigade stuff is just petty! Leave him off I say, not hurting anyone.
He should learn to curse “as Gaeilge”.
@Tommy Cameron: there’d still be some smart ass that would catch him
Typical English FA toffs can’t wait for Brexit for the whole country to explode with foreigners be routinely victimized- Warnock routinely swears – the jolly auld English justice