Jurgen Klopp has hit back at Jamie Carragher after an agreement over Sadio Mane.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has hit back at Jamie Carragher over a disagreement with Sadio Mane’s fitness.
Following the historic night in Madrid, the forward spent his next month with Senegal in the AFCON, guiding his nation to the Finals of the tournament. Since he started every game and did not have time off, club legend Jamie Carragher was worried about the burn-out.
The winger has scored three goals and produced two assists from three appearances, and in a Telegraph column, the former Reds defender was unhappy with Klopp’s management as Mane clocked 286 minutes in three matches totally.
“You cannot keep defying your body and my worry is that there will be a drop-off without a rest,” the ex-Liverpool defender wrote.
There is a huge reliance on Sadio Mane, who has top-scored for Liverpool since the turn of the New Year.
But Klopp has criticised Carragher’s comments, joking that he would enjoy life as a pundit and stressing that there are provisions in place to keep Mane sharp—with the September international break an important milestone.
“I would love to hear Jamie Carragher if I had left Sadio out. This punditry is a world-class business,” he said.
“I have to think about if I do it after my management career, because you can say whatever you want and you always put a finger in something.
“So yes, we try with Sadio. I did it [in the second half against Arsenal].
“I took him off and he doesn’t have to go away on international duty this time which will help him. We have an eye on it.”
The manager continued to explain that the club’s medical staff discuss fitness concerns with the players, and detailed how their approach to training is designed to avoid fatigue.
“You have to ask the players and that’s important as well,” Klopp said.
“As long as I see in their eyes that they really want it and I see it in our session in midweek, then I know. It’s about having that intensity always.
“We still only train two hours a day. In pre-season, four or five hours, but it’s not training like you are always exhausted.
“It’s making you stronger, more resilient. And if you win you don’t feel it like you do when you lose.”
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Liverpool travel to Turf Moore to play Burnley next week.
