Football
Glenn Price, Liverpool correspondent 7y

Philippe Coutinho out of Liverpool's game with Man City to work on fitness

LIVERPOOL -- Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has decided not to recall Philippe Coutinho to the squad for Saturday's game at Manchester City but said the player did nothing "unforgivable" in his attempts to force a move to Barcelona.

Coutinho returned to Merseyside on Thursday following international duty with Brazil, where he made his first two appearances of the season as a second-half substitute, scoring against Ecuador, in World Cup qualifying.

He did not appear in any of Liverpool's first five games with what the club say was a back injury and then illness, having handed in a transfer request as he sought a move to Barcelona.

But with the transfer window now closed, Klopp says he will bring the midfielder back into the fold gradually.

Speaking at a news conference, Klopp said: "We had a really good talk and his training was even better, but I had to make a decision.

"We've got seven games in three weeks so there will never be time to train really. We had a conversation about it -- before he went to Brazil, he couldn't train for around three weeks so that means we have to now try to prepare him for the season.

"It's quite difficult with our schedule so I decided to leave him out of the squad against City so he can four or five days of proper training.

"We got all the numbers from the Brazilian FA around the intensity of his sessions with them so it's all OK. He played twice I think, for around 15-20 minutes, and he could have played 15-20 minutes for us, but I think it makes sense for extra training.

"He agreed completely so it's not like he said: 'No, I don't need training, I want to play.' So, it was a good conversation."

After holding a 30-minute discussion with the playmaker upon his return to Melwood on Thursday, Klopp insists Coutinho is the "same" player and person as before the transfer saga.

Klopp continued: "Maybe some of you in your lives were split for a few weeks from a good relationship -- with friends, even with the wife or whoever -- and the very smart thing to do is not to think about the time when you were split and 'Oh, what did you do there?,' 'What did you say there?,' 'Who did you meet?'

"It was clear it was not the most easy time, but that's the transfer window. It's the only moment when players can make transfers, clubs can make transfers. It's not the first time it's happened here and it won't be the last time in history. In the future, similar things will happen and I think we handled it really well.

"There's no secret about the things which happened. Not all the things in newspapers or wherever were 100 percent right. A lot of things come up in these situations, but nothing that I am aware of was unforgivable. It's a normal thing. It's absolutely no problem and I'm completely fine with the situation.

"The team dealt really well [with it]. Actually I said in the dressing room yesterday: 'Boys, welcome two new players -- Ox [new signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain] and Phil.'

"It's all good. He loves football and he still loves this club. There's no problem. The only thing we have to do now is to bring him in the shape because before he got the back injuries, he was in outstanding shape.

"Now we have to get him back in this situation as quick as possible."

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