Ibrahim Oladamola
Jurgen Klopp admits some of his colleagues at Liverpool expected him to receive longer than a one-game touchline ban after his FA disciplinary charge – and joked his voice will still be able to reach the players even though he will be watching from the stands.
The German manager was handed the ban for Saturday’s game with Aston Villa after comments he made about referee Paul Tierney during the 4-3 win over Tottenham last month, in which he said the official “has something against us”.
The Liverpool boss has already served a touchline ban this season in November, when he watched from the stands against Southampton after receiving a red card against Manchester City.
Responding to his latest suspension, Klopp said in his pre-match press conference ahead of the Aston Villa game: “I expected a punishment with all the things we know and could hear.
“It’s okay, I would like to know where the money goes, whether it goes to a good cause. If it does, I’m happy to pay it. If it doesn’t we need to talk again.
“But apart from that, people around me were pretty negative. They thought it would be longer!
“It’s one game, it’s like the Southampton game, it will be the same process. I can watch the game from a better position and be in contact with my coaches.”
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Klopp will watch the Aston Villa game from the stands and be in contact to the bench via a phone to Vitor Matos, one of his backroom staff.
However, the Liverpool manager joked his voice can still reach his players from a far away distance if they don’t track back.
