Klopp defends his coaching staff: Have the balls and go for me

Jurgen Klopp is going through a difficult time in sporting terms and in his relationship with the press. The German coach has accumulated a number of recent run-ins with the media covering Liverpool‘s current affairs.

In the latest of these, the German has been forced to come to the defence of his coaching staff, from whom he says he has heard too much criticism recently.

“If they were not helpful or inspirational or whatever you want to call it, they would not be here,” he said in a press conference.

“I’m 100 percent clear on that. Nobody is here because they are my friend. It was never the case and never will be the case.

“They are here because they are best in class in what they do. That’s all. If you praise them in the good times, then criticise them in the bad times.

“If you don’t praise them in the good times, don’t do it in the less good times. Have the balls and go for me.”

Klopp calmed the waters

To defuse the tension, the German used his customary sense of humour to end his remarks by saying that “now you have no more questions for me, you’re afraid”, which drew general laughter from the press room. Liverpool at least got their revenge on Monday with a 2-0 victory in the Merseyside derby against Everton.