Friday, June 29, 2018
Jurgen Klopp Sadio Mane will be ready for Bafana Bafana
Jurgen Klopp Sadio Mane will be ready for Bafana Bafana
With Liverpool attacker Sadio Mane set to face South Africa in a crucial Fifa World Cup qualifier on Friday, his club manager Jurgen Klopp answered questions about his players chances to make an impact in the international game.
Klopp was hosted by a lower division SA club Hout Bay United, a team�focussed on youth development. The Germans taken a one week break from Liverpool and decided to visit a friend in Cape Town. At the same time he agreed to help the Hout Bay community by raising funds for their football initiatives.
Hout Bay United Football Club passed Goals question to Klopp in front of a live audience: "Jurgen Klopp, can you please tell us how South Africa could stop Sadio Mane?"
"No," Klopp answered as the audience broke into laughter. Over the next week South Africa needs to beat Senegal home and away to qualify for Russia 2018.
"I would tell you if I knew (how to stop Mane), but I have no clue," Klopp continued.
"He played 78 minutes (creating two assists in a 4-1 win against West Ham)�after just two sessions (of training), so maybe he needs to recover.�
"When is he playing against South Africa again? Friday night? Yes, sorry, then he will be ready," Klopp laughed.
Hes confident of his players destructive abilities to spoil Bafana Bafanas chances, and�its now up to SA to figure out how to stop the lethal attacker.
Later in the conversation with Hout Bay Uniteds hosts on stage, Klopp answered a question about motivating players who are not up to the required standard. The manager went on to tie this up with the criticism hes received this season for Liverpools lack of quality central defensive coverage.�
"I would never tell a player he is not good enough. If hes not good enough then he will not be in my team, then its my fault (for having him here). As long as he is in my team, then he is good enough. All our centre-halves are good enough," Klopp stated with a broad smile, almost sarcastically which led to loud laughter in the audience.�
The German has a wonderful sense of humour and rolled with the jokers, but then turned serious before breaking with a punchline.
"All the players are my responsibility. Apart from the Tottenham game. I had nothing to do with the Tottenham game."
More laughter. If Klopp ever needed a second job, it could be as a stand-up comedian. Talking about entertainment, he was asked about his entertaining style of football and went on to poke fun at Manchester United, because one of the hosts was a United fan.
"You know we have to entertain the people, its not allowed to play boring football. I know a lot of fans of other clubs are used to it."
It was a long night of questions and answers at the Hout Bay Harbour, which wasnt much of a rest for the Liverpool manager.�
He will get that break on Thursday, before watching South Africa against Senegal on television on Friday. Then Klopp will return�to England on Saturday.
posted by ConnectMe
