‘The worst idea in football’: Ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp slams Club World Cup amid player concerns | OneFootball

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has labelled FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup as ‘the worst idea ever implemented in football’.

Klopp’s comments came after Red Bull Salzburg, one of the teams in his organisation, bowed out of the tournament following a 3-0 thrashing against Real Madrid.

The Austrian giants described their experience in the Club World Cup as an ‘unforgettable journey’, but that didn’t stop Klopp from voicing his frustration.

In an interview with Welt, Klopp pointed to the unrelenting schedule players now face.

“In the end, it’s all about the game and not the surrounding aspects – and that’s why the Club World Cup is the worst idea ever implemented in football in this regard,” Klopp said.

He also lashed out at the decision-makers who are far removed from the realities of modern football, suggesting the expanded tournament only adds pressure without considering the impact on the game’s most valuable asset – the players.

“People who have never had anything to do with day-to-day business or who no longer have anything to do with it come up with something,” he added.

Speaking specifically on player workload, Klopp said: “Last year we had the Copa America and European Championship, this year the Club World Cup and next year then the World Cup.

“This does not mean any real recovery for the players who are there, neither physically nor mentally.

“An NBA player, who also earns a big salary, has a four-month break every year. This is what (Liverpool defender) Virgil van Dijk got in his entire career.”

Not everyone shares his point of view. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said playing in the tournament is a ‘privilege’ and acknowledged the intensity of the competition.

Meanwhile, players’ union FIFPro has urged football’s governing bodies to enforce a mandatory four-week off-season to protect players from burnout.