Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has told Premier League bound Pep Guardiola that he will need 35 players to cope with the demands of the English game when he finally decides who to take over, according to the Daily Mirror.
Guardiola is favourite to take over from Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City this summer after recently announcing that he would be leaving Bayern Munich at the end of the season, but Klopp has a stark warning for him before he arrives.
Klopp has admitted that he has struggled to cope with the demand of the English game so far, claiming that he did not know that the League Cup semi-final was played over two legs, while stating that his friends in Germany were confused when he told them about FA Cup replays.
“The number of games is the biggest difference,” he said. “When I came here, I didn’t know there were two rounds in the semi-final of the Capital One Cup.
“I had people in Germany, saying after we beat Stoke, ‘yeah, you’re in the final again!’ Idiots!
“In Germany, when you tell people about the FA Cup that if you draw you play again. They say ‘what?’ Here you have penalties and extra time, but only after the second game.
“That’s the thing, it’s the number of games, football, football, football. With a perfect pre-season you are prepared for a long, long journey.
“We knew about it, but to feel it is different. Pep is so experienced, for sure. I’m sure he will buy a few players and have a good team, have 35 players or whatever.”
Klopp also addressed the current injury crisis that has hit the Reds, saying: “I’ve had a similar situation before with injuries, but with the winter break, they come back. That’s a big difference.
“What I can say about here is very positive – it’s a great country, great people, the food is much better than everybody said. OK, the weather is not great – like everyone said! – but today is not bad.”
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