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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You can’t help love this guy, so likeable.
I hope all the people in Liverpool will be happy
Love the profile pic Johnny, really says it all about your contributions
Ok I’ll stoop to your level ‘ egghead ‘ . My contribution was in relation to the story , yours was just a personal jibe .
Bet you feel a bit stupid now wha ….
I said contributions Johnny as in what you say in general. And your pic like most of your views is out of date
No I’m pretty sure it’s very topical at present Ron !
No Niall Leicester have actually won the league, got the trophy and all
Niall will you come out and tell this numpty that we’re two different people . We’re not all like you Ron with several accounts .. so pipe down
Pot kettle black Johnny I don’t have multiple accounts and I’m using my real name
Oh and reckon Niall is banned
Make no difference to me Ron
Ah lighten up Johnny you take me way too seriously
Probably a daft thing to say alright but obviously meant in good spirit. There’ll be a mad atmosphere anyway, always the way with Liverpool fans
He’s been given his orders it seems now but it still wont stop them traveling , their mad bunch
Thats why we love him.He is a fan.
He’s not doing it for free!!
Klopp was clearly made say this by Liverpool the fans will still go Klopp and the fans are both lunatics