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Philippe Coutinho left out of Liverpool squad as Jurgen Klopp compares transfer request to lovers' tiff
Jurgen Klopp compared Philippe Coutinho’s attempts to ditch Liverpool for Barcelona as a lovers’ tiff, suggesting it would have been more difficult to forgive had his flirtation been with Everton.
Coutinho will not be in the squad travelling to Manchester City on Saturday, Klopp insisting fitness issues are behind that decision. The Brazilian has not played for Liverpool since a sore back coincided with three failed Barca bids, but the pair met on Thursday to put a fractious summer behind them.
Klopp says Coutinho’s team mates will welcome his return despite the fact he handed in a transfer request.
“Most of them are friends for many years,” said Klopp.
“One hundred per cent if a club like Barcelona is around then nobody says are you crazy, what do you want to go there for? Everyone has this little bit of understanding and thinks okay it’s Barcelona, and it is not that he wanted to go to Everton. Then it would have been different I would say - another wonderful club but a different situation. There was nothing.
“They are really good friends. They understand it a bit. They probably wished it could have been different, but now it is not anything..
“There are so many really worrying things that are happening in the world at this time but this is nothing.
“I can explain it a little: Maybe a few of you have had a split in a good relationship, with the wife or whatever, and it is not good to think about the time you were split.
“It was not the most easy time but that is the transfer window and that is the only time players and clubs can make transfers.
“It is not the first time and it won't be the last time in history when similar things will happen.
“I really think we handled it really well. Not all the things were 100 per cent right but it is normal a lot of things were coming up in a situation like this.
“But nothing I am aware of was unforgiveable. It is a normal thing.”
Although £35 million signing from Arsenal, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, will join the squad immediately - probably on the bench - Klopp said Coutinho understood the decision to leave him out.
“He came in yesterday (Thursday) and accepted 100 per cent the situation – I didn't even have to say anything about it,” said Klopp.
“There is absolutely no problem and I am completely fine with this situation.
“He looks like he is the same Philippe.
“There was another pretty big club and they wanted to have a player from us and there was a club decision.
“You can't say 'no' and it stops in one day, that's how it is. You have to go through these times and things can be good if you are smart enough to start again.
“I said yesterday in the dressing room 'Boys, welcome two new players: Alex (Oxlade-Chamberlain) and Phil.
“The only thing to do now is to bring him into the shape before he was before the back problems because he played outstanding football in Hong Kong.
“Now we have to get him back in this situation as quick as possible.”
Klopp’s decision to omit Coutinho underlines the strength in depth at Anfield. The manager said he held a meeting with his squad to offer reassurances they will all contribute this season and should see his ability to rotate as a sign a successful era is coming.
“If we didn’t have the players then Phil would play and Ox would play. That is how it is,” said Klopp.
“It’s not about hiding them, it’s about preparing them for the moment. It is my job to make sure they are ready. From the squad we had two weeks ago we are plus two in Ox and Phil. That is a situation you don’t have too often and of course there will be hard decisions about the squad and the line up. If they are angry, they are angry at me but I can accept this.. If all are fit then it will happen that a few are not involved, even quality players. It has to be like this.”
Although new signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will join the squad immediately, Klopp said Coutinho understood the decision for him to catch up on the pre-season training he missed over the last three weeks.
“He came in yesterday, accepted 100 per cent the situation – I didn't even have to say anything about it,” said Klopp. “We don't know how long he will play for the club so there is absolutely no problem and I am completely fine with this situation.
“He looks like he is the same Philippe. The most important thing is no-one told me anything where I thought 'Oh, that is too much'.
“There was another pretty big club and they wanted to have a player from us and there was a club decision.
“You can't say 'no' and it stops in one day, that's how it is. You have to go through these times and things can be good if you are smart enough to start again.
“I said yesterday in the dressing room 'Boys, welcome two new players: Alex (Oxlade-Chamberlain) and Phil. He loves football and he still loves this club so there is no problem.
“The only thing to do now is to bring him into the shape before he was before the back problems because he played outstanding football in Hong Kong.
“Now we have to get him back in this situation as quick as possible.”