Klopp calls for Tottenham games to replayed ahead of UEL tie
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00:00 >> Good afternoon.
00:01 Exactly the same process that player.
00:09 We have simultaneous translation.
00:10 And we have a rolling mic.
00:11 So if you want to ask a question, please raise your hand.
00:12 >> Jürgen, of course, everyone is talking about what happened on Saturday.
00:13 Everyone conducted themselves, including yourself, with dignity on the day.
00:28 Now that you've listened to the audio, you've seen exactly what happened.
00:31 How is everyone feeling about Saturday?
00:36 >> The audio didn't change at all.
00:40 Because I was not really interested in that, why things happened, because I knew...
00:49 I saw the outcome, I saw a goal, we scored, and it didn't count.
00:53 So I was now not waiting for the audio and then sitting there and hoping I find out how
00:58 it could happen or whatever.
00:59 So what I want to say is it's really important that we, as big as football is, that we just...
01:05 And important as football is for us at least, that we really deal with it in a proper way.
01:11 And I mean that all of the people involved - on field ref, linesman, full official, and
01:19 especially now in this case we are - they didn't do that on purpose.
01:24 And we should not forget that.
01:26 Yes, it was a mistake, an obvious mistake, and I think there would have been solutions
01:33 for it afterwards, if not, I can say immediately,
01:38 probably some people don't want me to say that, but not as a manager of Liverpool so much,
01:44 more as a football person, I think the only outcome should be a replay.
01:50 That's how it is, probably will not happen.
01:54 The argument against that will probably be if we open that gate,
01:58 then everybody will ask for it.
02:00 I think the situation is that unprecedented that it didn't happen before, in that moment.
02:07 And we are all used to it, I'm 56 years old and I'm since 50 years in football,
02:11 and I'm absolutely used to it.
02:13 I don't deal always well with it, but I'm used to wrong decisions, difficult decisions,
02:19 all these kinds of things.
02:21 Something like that, as far as I can remember, never happened.
02:25 That's why I think a replay would be the right thing.
02:27 And against the argument, it would be if it would happen again,
02:31 I think a replay would be the right thing to do,
02:33 or the ref has the opportunity to bring both coaches together and say,
02:39 "Sorry, we made a mistake, but we can sort it, let Liverpool score a goal
02:44 "and we start from there."
02:46 In a specific game it was what makes it a bit more special than obviously...
02:50 ..that we conceded two minutes after we scored a regular goal.
02:55 And how all things depend on each other, if the goal would have counted,
03:01 the game would have started in the centre of the pitch
03:05 and not where it started, and all these kinds of things, it would have been different.
03:09 That's one thing, and that's my view on it,
03:14 and I'm not angry with anybody of them or whatever, not at all,
03:18 and I really think it's not only the respect,
03:24 but the only thing for human beings in general,
03:27 that you should not go for them, really.
03:29 It's not allowed to go for them in no way.
03:32 They made a mistake and they felt horrible that night, I'm 100 per cent sure.
03:38 And that's enough for me, so nobody needs further punishment or whatever.
03:44 I think we should just discuss it on a completely normal basis, without emotions.
03:51 I'm not angry, I could discuss it, but it's not my job, I'm here to prepare a game,
03:57 a super-important and super-difficult game against New York St. Gervais,
04:02 and that's much more important.
04:05 But because I understand that you asked the question
04:07 and you want to have answers for that,
04:11 what I thought made this day really difficult for us
04:17 is all the other decisions.
04:19 Because there's another thing, we talk about the process now of VR,
04:22 and that's how they talk to each other,
04:25 but in this game there was another situation when Curtis Jones got a red card,
04:29 and I stick to the opinion that it's not a red card.
04:33 The ref got called to the screen and saw for the first three seconds a frozen picture,
04:38 and I would have given him immediately a red card for that picture.
04:42 Then he sees the replay in slow motion,
04:45 and I would have given him a red card for the slow motion,
04:48 but in real time it's not a red card.
04:50 So, you go for it and then the FA panel tells you to appeal it,
04:55 and the FA panel says, "No, it's not a clear and obvious mistake."
04:59 And I think it is, but not the ref's first decision, it was yellow.
05:04 So then the clear and obvious mistake is showing a frozen picture in slow motion.
05:10 So, that's it.
05:12 There are obviously a lot of things, and again, we will not get Curtis back for playing,
05:16 that's how it is, fine.
05:18 On top of that, Djoko Csota got two yellow cards for not touching a player once,
05:22 that's unprecedented as well, I would say.
05:25 But that's all fine, we can take a lot out of this game and took a lot out of this game.
05:30 I saw a wonderful, wonderful team fighting against all odds in an incredible, fair way.
05:42 I don't know how it happened that we had eight yellow cards or eight cards altogether,
05:47 it was a strange one, but that's it.
05:50 So that's what we take out of it, it's not that we stand here with empty hands
05:54 and didn't get anything, we didn't get points, that's true,
05:57 but all the rest we can use and that's what we will do.
06:01 But not out of a position with anger and these kind of things, that's not the mood we are in.
06:07 Well, your teams are always known for their spirit,
06:09 but after what happened on Saturday, the way your team performed,
06:12 especially with 10 and then nine,
06:14 how much more spirit does that give everyone going forward?
06:17 Yeah, yeah, of course, we will see, that's what we have to prove.
06:22 Like I said, defeat is only a real defeat if you don't learn,
06:27 if you don't take anything out of it, and we can take a lot out of it,
06:30 but we will see how to use that.
06:32 But again, we had a good spirit before that, I didn't need any kind of proof,
06:38 but it's how it is in football, you need to prove yourself all the time,
06:41 and that's what we did.
06:43 Again, it was really good, really, really special.
06:45 Top mentality, all these kind of things, and that's what we need tomorrow night as well,
06:51 because we face a team who is flying in the league,
06:54 is obviously top of the table and is doing really, really well,
06:57 again after losing key players, doing well again,
07:02 unbeaten in Europe for a long time, away for a long time,
07:05 so super special what they are doing there, and we have to be ready.
07:11 And just a quick one, when Cody scored the goal, did you have to substitute him?
07:16 He was injured before the goal, before he scored.
07:18 So he won't be available for it?
07:20 No.
07:22 Just go on, Mike.
07:24 It looks as though we've reached a watershed moment with VAR,
07:29 do you think as the discussions will be ongoing to try and improve the whole situation,
07:34 that managers should be consulted and asked for their opinion
07:38 as to how it could be improved, and players perhaps?
07:41 The problem is, discussing these things in public,
07:47 I told you a couple of times, the world is not ready for that.
07:51 If I now say, "Yes, it would be cool, managers are there on the table,"
07:55 we have enough opportunities to talk to the refs,
07:57 the refs want to do it right, believe me.
08:00 We speak since ages about the wording, "clear and obvious" is not the right wording,
08:06 because why clear and obvious? It's just about right or wrong.
08:10 We spoke about that, but it's a massive institution,
08:19 IFAB and all these kinds of things.
08:21 In the end, believe it or not, they all want to put it right.
08:27 So that's how it is, and I believe in that.
08:30 And of course these things should not happen, other mistakes shouldn't happen,
08:34 but they happened, and that's how it is, that's fine.
08:36 Learn from it, find a solution how to deal with it.
08:39 The solution is for me not only improving the process,
08:44 because now all the time it took so long to find a decision,
08:48 and everybody in the stadium was like, "Oh, what are they waiting for?"
08:51 So I put another line, another line, so we rushed them and told them,
08:54 "We need a decision quicker."
08:55 Now we have a quick decision, but it's the wrong decision,
08:58 at least the decision was right, but the communication was not great.
09:02 So that's the thing, things need as much time as they need.
09:06 It's not great. Is it fantastic that we have to celebrate a goal for a second
09:11 and then we wait five minutes to understand if we really can celebrate or not?
09:14 It's all good, but we are used to it meanwhile, so that's it.
09:19 But I'm not sure players and managers involved in that now, that's necessary,
09:23 because the problems I think are obvious and they are sortable.
09:30 We should create a situation, or try to create a situation,
09:34 where these people can make their best decisions.
09:37 I try, and everybody knows that I have probably to improve the most,
09:42 but I try and...
09:44 Then we will see. What will the outcome be?
09:51 I'm just not happy with what happens now,
09:55 that it's a heated conversation about people and stuff like this,
10:02 and there is a solution for it, and I really think it's a solution, in a game.
10:08 And it's not because we are involved, yes, we are involved,
10:11 but in a situation like this, a real, massive mistake of all people involved,
10:17 then correct it in that moment, but obviously the people thought
10:23 that's not what they can do, then fine, let's do a replay,
10:30 and if it happens next time, give them a chance to do it like this,
10:34 and then we don't have that problem at least anymore.
10:36 Lots of reasons to look forward to this game.
10:39 We've got the opportunity of a footballing rarity,
10:42 with Alexis McAllister playing against his brother.
10:48 Has Alexis been more revved up for this game,
10:51 or been talking about it more because of this unusual situation?
10:55 Has he been able to give you any insight as to Union San Giluar?
10:59 Yeah, about his brother, and their father is here, obviously,
11:04 family is here, big moment definitely for him, I'm pretty sure.
11:08 They have another brother I think who is playing as well,
11:12 professional football, cousins playing professional football,
11:15 father was a professional player, uncle was a professional football player,
11:18 so I think that's not the first time that family members met on the football pitch,
11:22 I would be really surprised.
11:24 But, yeah, it's special, and I can imagine I saw a little thing when they spoke to each other.
11:30 So, brothers, love each other but still have fights from time to time,
11:37 at least how I learned it when I was young.
11:40 Didn't have a brother, but two sisters, that was bad enough.
11:42 So, yeah, I think it's special, nice side story,
11:47 but probably, hopefully not the main story of the game afterwards.
11:52 Bob.
11:53 Jürgen, do you accept it's probably going to be seen by the football authorities
12:02 as very impractical and impossible to replay that game against Spurs?
12:06 And you can probably appreciate that their argument will be,
12:09 any team who has a decision that affects the result, which is incorrect,
12:14 would probably want the same going forward.
12:16 Yeah, I have to accept everything,
12:19 I think it's really that, and, President, the thing is,
12:22 parts of the refereeing team set a goal, that's really rare,
12:33 and it doesn't show up on a screen, on a score sheet,
12:36 and the game gets continued with a free kick.
12:41 So that makes it really different, I think.
12:44 So it's just about what is the possible outcome.
12:47 So, again, in our position it's completely normal
12:52 that we have to accept what we get told,
13:00 so we can be as angry as we want or not, we have to accept what we get told.
13:05 So we say something about referees which is not helpful,
13:09 but out of emotion and not a general opinion or whatever,
13:13 and it's just, "Yeah, we cannot do that," and fine.
13:18 So that's the world, the planet we are living on.
13:21 So I'm not interested in that, if I say something which is not right,
13:25 they fine me and I pay it and it's good,
13:27 I'm interested in how we can improve things.
13:30 And if the only solution for a problem like this is now,
13:33 that will not happen next week, definitely not.
13:36 It will now take really long, everybody will make sure you are happy as well,
13:41 you are happy as well, sorry, are you happy as well?
13:43 They will call at home probably and ask, "It's really a goal,"
13:46 and then we get it in the stadium.
13:48 That's a completely normal human reaction, I get that.
13:51 Nobody wants to make these kind of mistakes
13:53 and wants to be in the middle of all attention for the wrong reasons.
14:00 That's why I said we have to just talk about it completely calm,
14:04 because it's over, emotions are out, the game is finished,
14:08 what could be the possible outcome?
14:10 And not trying to put it right because of something that could happen in the future,
14:16 I think if that would happen again, I would say, "Replay, fine."
14:22 Play it again, or much better than a replay, sort it in that moment,
14:28 just with common sense.
14:30 Then we don't have that problem anymore.
14:33 Maybe it happens in ten years again, and then they can say,
14:36 "Yes, last time we had to make a replay, now we can do it like that,
14:41 "look at that, what a wonderful solution."
14:44 That would be a big improvement, but we will see.
14:48 The club made a very strong statement on Sunday night after the game
14:51 where they talked about resolution and escalation of this incident,
14:57 do you know what they mean by that?
14:59 My English is not good enough, honestly.
15:02 For me it was a completely normal statement,
15:04 I heard that some people thought it was aggressive,
15:06 but I'm a...
15:07 Have you spoken to the club about what challenge might be going forward,
15:10 or whether you can appeal directly and ask formally for a replay?
15:14 Yeah, of course we speak, but you have other people in the club who put that together,
15:22 and then the club goes for it and is doing the things we think we have to do.
15:28 That's how it is.
15:30 But the word 'escalation' didn't come from me,
15:34 I don't even exactly know what it means, but I wouldn't have put it in a letter.
15:39 That's it.
15:41 Hi, Jürgen, it was just a follow-up on that, just to clarify something.
15:46 Is the club now going to approach the Premier League
15:49 and formally ask for the games replayed?
15:52 Just to clarify.
15:54 What is the answer to that?
15:58 At this stage we're still going through the information that we have.
16:03 OK, thank you.
16:05 Sorry.
16:07 Jürgen, last season you spoke a lot about when going through tough times,
16:14 stick together, deal with situations in the right manner,
16:18 good things will come of it ultimately in the end.
16:21 Do you feel long-term with this situation,
16:25 you've talked about everybody concerned in it,
16:27 including the VAR, match officials and everything else,
16:29 that good will come out of it?
16:31 I'm not sure I understand the question,
16:39 but what does it have to do with us,
16:41 whether it's our take of it or the refs' take of it?
16:43 No, just about the way you've been applauded for the way you've handled the situation yourself,
16:48 straight after the match, but the way you speak about it,
16:51 and that ultimately things could change in the end.
16:56 Ultimately, things could change because of it going forward in the future,
17:01 the way that maybe VAR is operated.
17:04 Again, from my point of view, it's just like this,
17:09 if you face a situation for the first time,
17:12 you try to understand it, why it happened, when you figure that out,
17:16 and you try to work on solutions.
17:18 I know everybody's doing that, but that doesn't solve the actual problem,
17:23 because there are still points at stake.
17:26 So how can we sort it, not only for the future, but still that situation.
17:31 That's just how I understand it. You try it, that's what you have to do,
17:36 you have to try to sort the situation.
17:38 That's why I say, for me, a replay would be the right decision, so that's fine.
17:43 But if that happens or not, that's not even close to my hands,
17:46 and I don't care, it's just my opinion.
17:49 And then of course, how the ref said now, the process will be better,
17:56 all these kinds of things, and it's good, of course, that's very good,
18:02 and that would be a really good outcome, but that doesn't change.
18:06 Something already happened, and what's the solution for that, by the way?
18:10 I think just us saying, "OK, yeah, got it,
18:17 "there was a penalty situation not given against us or for us,
18:22 "or in the past and we didn't get a replay, that's why we cannot do that."
18:25 That's a completely different situation.
18:27 That goal was court, was legal, fact, and then in the end it didn't count.
18:33 That makes no sense, so that's it.
18:35 Yeah, good, I definitely will improve, that's clear, and it's good.
18:40 For us it's much more important, as I said before.
18:43 I was really proud of the team, how they dealt with it,
18:51 and the team felt pretty good about it as well.
18:54 And that's what we have to use, but it's a completely different game tomorrow night,
19:03 and I hope our people show the well-deserved love
19:15 after having a really tough weekend tomorrow night
19:19 and make it a super special atmosphere.
19:21 I'm pretty sure they do anyway, they would have done it if we had won the game,
19:25 but we didn't win it, even more important it is.
19:28 So I'm really looking forward to a European night at Anfield.
19:34 Yeah, that's good.
19:36 Thank you, everyone.
19:38 A lot of questions for Njoho, thank you very much.
19:44 I don't put it in one arm, so...
19:47 [SIDE CONVERSATION]
19:51 [BLANK_AUDIO]