JURGEN KLOPP has been called “a disgrace” by Accrington Stanley chairman Andy Holt over his pledge not to field Liverpool’s first team in their FA Cup replay against Shrewsbury Town.
The Reds have seen their already hectic schedule compounded after a much-changed side were held to a 2-2 draw at New Meadow on Sunday, setting up a rematch on 4 February.
With the date falling in the midst of his team’s mid-season break from the Premier League, Klopp expressed his subsequent exasperation at seeing Liverpool’s rest period trimmed from a fortnight to 11 days.
“I said to the boys already two weeks ago that we will have a winter break, which means we will not be there,” the German said, confirming his first teamers would not be included for the tie.
You cannot deal with us like nobody cares about it. I know that it’s not very popular but that’s the way I see it.
“The Premier League asked us to respect the winter break. That’s what we do. If the FA doesn’t respect that, then we cannot change it. We will not be there.”
Klopp added that ”[it] will be the kids who play” and confirmed that U23s coach Neil Critchley would be in the dugout. Critchley presided over Liverpool’s 5-0 defeat to Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup back in December after another scheduling clash meant that Klopp and the first team were in Qatar for the Club World Cup.
Klopp has been an outspoken critic of fixture pile-up over the last few seasons and has long called for a winter break for the Premier League.
In a series of tweets, however, Stanley owner Holt strongly criticised the 52-year-old’s stance, launching an expletive-filled tirade against the Champions League-winning manager.
“He’s a disgrace,” Holt said. ”I’ll never understand why top clubs and top Premier League players don’t stand up and stay united with clubs and players further down the pyramid. This is pure selfishness of the highest degree.
I’d drag myself out of bed to play the replay. Because it’s the right thing to do. I wouldn’t give a sh*t how tired I was. I’d do the right thing. I’d give a bit back instead of being a grasping, selfish type.
“We spoke about the FA Cup and how top Premier League [clubs] would rather be playing exhibition matches in China building their profits and brands. That’s why the FA were considering significantly increasing the first prizes far more than the earlier rounds proportionately.
“We have only just given up 5th round replays. They’re back for 4th round replays. They join in the 3rd [round].
Jurgen, @LFC, you’re embarrassing yourself. You’re tarnishing your reputation. Rethink where you go from here. You’re killing the FA Cup. There’s calls to kill the Carabao Cup. You’re killing us.”
For lower-league sides like Shrewsbury and Accrington, the domestic cup competitions represent a vital source of income in terms of prize money, gate receipts and matchday earnings. Holt also stated that it was “unfair” on Shrewsbury’s players and fans.
“The FA are bending over backwards for the Premier League,” he went on. “It is their fault. They should know: ‘Give them an inch and they’ll take a mile’.
“The bigger issue is @LFC undermining the success enjoyed by @shrewsweb who DESERVE their day in the sun and a proper pay day.”
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The FA told the clubs to keep that window free and not have games so players can recuperate. Then the FA scheduled games for that window. While I can see why people are annoyed I think Klopp is right to take a stand and hopefully it will bring positive change in the future
@dublindamo: Exactly. He was already annoyed with the Christmas fixture congestion and this is what has tipped him over. Players have booked holidays/time with their families and were promised that time from Klopp. He is not going to break that promise and disrupt the positive attitude he has instilled in the team when they are on way to win their first league in 30 years.
@dublindamo: Fair enough give the players the time off. But Klopp himself should be manager no excuses not to be. Also if I was a Liverpool fan I’d be thinking let’s win the lot and outdo what United done in 1999. I think Liverpool have won over so many football fans in past 18 months but people may turn on them now but then again why should Liverpool care..
@dublindamo: thought this only happened in the GAA
@irishoverseas: yeah I think that would silence the argument all right..if klopp takes charge of the u23s but let’s senior players skip it then people cant really give out as every team rotates for the cup
@dublindamo: It’s the Premier League who have organized that window, not the FA. Neither of them are on the same page over this. Your man from Accrington should be having a go at the Premier League, not Liverpool.
@irishoverseas: next season they will but at the moment they just really want to get that money off their back
Klopp is making a stance on player welfare. No game should be scheduled for the winter break, and he’s willing to treat that game with the same respect the fa. treats his players.
@Eugene Foley: he’s going all out for a league title and European Cup. Wants all his top players available because its a real possibility. If that fits into the player welfare category, I suppose your right.
@Derek Trotter: absolutely he wants all his players fit for the league run in and champions league. That is the priority for LFC as a whole right now and klopp is responsible form making sure that happens. Player welfare is a part of that.
Very hard to disagree with him really.
Accrington Stanley ? Who are they ? Exactly . As the advertisement goes . Lol
Man united fans = klopps a disgrace
Liverpool fans = klopps right.
He can play whatever team he wants. He should be there though. Cant see how he’s being disgraceful either , t least he’s making a point.
@Peter Govan: he’s right to play the kids, the schedule is ridiculous. But I agree he should be there himself.
@Peter Govan: I am a United fan and certainly no lover of Liverpool or Krusty but I agree totally with his stance,you can’t tell players you have a break and clubs must respect it but another organization says you must play this game,total shambles from the FA, we keep thinking we can flog the players week in week out because they are on big money but then give out when they get injured or don’t perform up to the standards we expect of them
@Peter Govan: the u23 side will be playing, the manager of the u23′s will be the manager.
Klopp’s attitude is disgusting.
Screw the fans, screw the tradition and fabric of the game, all hail Sky and the pursuit of money that is rotting the game.
@Philip Exley: what’s it got to with sky??? They have no rights to the fa cup. What makes his attitude disgusting ???
@Peter Govan: he’s just a troll. He wrote a comment about how Irish people getting worked up about English football is sad and here he is getting worked up about English football in another article.
@ᴛᴏᴍ49: tbf I think his point is that sky have nothing to do with the fa Cup hence de valuing it’s importance year on year. Sad really was once a great cup to win.
@ᴛᴏᴍ49: Hardly a troll.
I’m english. Follow an unfashionable english club and have done for 55 years. I grew up watching an english game that at least had some semblance of a level playing field before being destroyed by the Premier League and the money pumped in by Sky.
The FA Cup used to be a great competition with many clubs registering their highest attendances for Cup games. Now it’s treated like an encumberance by clubs chasing fourth place in the greed league or simply trying to stay in the greed league. They’d rather finish 17th than actually try and win something.
As for Irish people getting worked up about English teams. I do think it’s sad. Try watching your own clubs you might end up with the well supported and competitive league the country deserves.
I live in Kerry now but still make the effort to get to games. I’d rather go and see Limerick or Cork than Liverpool’s kids disrespecting the game.
@Philip Exley: yawn…..
@ℝ: Well thought out response. Well done. I bet you didn’t have to leave your seat in front of Sky Sports to write it either.
Klopp has the right to play whatever players he choses and to do what’s right for lfc. He does however in my opinion have to manage said team as their representative of lfcs first team. Sky unf don’t cover the fa Cup and as a result the Cup has been run down to micky mouse status. Used to love as a kid watching a whole day’s coverage of the fa Cup regardless of who was in the final. Money talks now and the idea of finishing 4th in a league is a bigger achievement than winning a cup. Modern football……
The FA told all clubs before the season started 4th Rd replays would have to be played on the dates scheduled even though it’s in the break.
So Shut ur mouth, turn up & do your job, play the game with whatever team you decide and then have a lovely week off yourself and the missus doing whatever you fancy, go sking, yodelling or putting your towel on the sun lounger at 6am every morning ,whatever you feel like lad, enjoy.
@Ray Laffan: The Premier League told all clubs before the season started the following – “You are expected to honour and respect the underlying rationale for the mid-season player break, namely to provide their players with a break from the physical and mental rigours of playing matches during the season.”
So you have two different competitions, with two different governing bodies, giving contradictory instructions. Klopp is merely choosing to follow the instructions as laid out by the Premier League
@Ray Laffan: anymore stereotypes you want to chuck in there mate. There’s zero obligation to be there for any game if he chooses not to, and you can be sure Klopp deserves a break more than the players themselves. Like most managers he’ll be still be working most evenings when they’re chilling with families, prepping for next days training sessions, reviewing analysis for upcoming game, all the stuff that happens outside training sessions including the amount of time he gives over to media and charities because he’s an enigmatic personality….
It’s a squad game, they can field whatever team they want. It was pretty much a second string side that played the away game so what’s the problem? That said I do think he should be in the dugout himself.
Down with that sort of thing, careful now
Mr accrington Stanley you had moment back in the 70s(could be 80s)iam getting to old haven’t a clue somewhere around then and to this day every football fan knows you. Now get of your high horse (or hobby horse)and please piss the hell off