Jurgen Klopp has never been one to hold back his views. And this time, his target is FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup.
The former Liverpool manager, now head of global soccer at Red Bull, has labelled the new tournament format as “the worst idea ever implemented in football”.
He joins the growing chorus of people, pointing to the fact that it increases the demands on players and reduces the time for proper development.
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 record winners 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 over what he sees as an increasingly unsustainable calendar.
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.”
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.”
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 head coach Pep Guardiola said playing in the tournament is a “privilege” and acknowledged the intensity of the competition.
Meanwhile, Player union FIFPro has urged football’s governing bodies to enforce a mandatory four-week off-season to protect players from burn out.