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Jurgen Klopp explains why touchline ban can be ‘super helpful’.
Jurgen Klopp, the manager of Liverpool, has said that he is looking forward to seeing his team play Aston Villa on Saturday from the stands because it would offer him a better perspective of the action.
For his statements concerning referee Paul Tierney, whom he accused of prejudice during April’s 4-3 victory over Tottenham, Klopp was given a two-game touchline suspension, the second of which is postponed until the conclusion of the 2023–24 season.
In spite of the fact that Klopp will have to watch Liverpool’s final home game of the season against Aston Villa from the stands on Saturday, the manager claimed he is only considering the advantages of his punishment.
“From a watching point of view it is [a] much better position to see the game, it was with the Southampton game and it was super-helpful to see the game from there,” Klopp told his pre-game press conference.
“Nobody will shout like me at them if they don’t track back but I will tell the boys if they don’t want me to do that in the future they just have to do that now without me shouting.
“I am really in contact with Vitor [Matos] so we can speak about everything, substitutions, and apart from that Pep [Lijnders], is an incredible coach and he will be out there.
“I’m not sure how many per cent of the things I shout are because the boys, Pete [Krawietz] and Pep, saw it on the iPad and said ‘we have to sort this, we have to sort that’. They can do it directly because I am the only one who cannot watch it back during a game – now I can do that from the stands.”
Klopp went on to admit some of his colleagues feared he would be handed a harsher punishment and also questioned where his £75,000 fine was actually going.
“I expected a punishment with all the things we know and could hear,” Klopp said. “I would like to know, as always, where the money goes. If it’s for a good cause then I’m more than happy to pay it; if not, the FA keeps it then we have to talk again and I think it’s a bit harsh.
“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.”