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Liverpool boss Klopp pokes fun at Neville over lockdown rants
LONDON, May 15, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has joked
that his biggest lesson from the coronavirus lockdown is just how outspoken
former Manchester United defender Gary Neville can be.
In his role as a television pundit, Neville has vented on a range of issues
related to the Premier League and the health crisis.
The former England international has criticised Premier League chiefs for
being slow to give updates on their restart plans.
He also took issue with the government’s call for players to take wage cuts
during the pandemic and let rip on a host of other subjects.
Klopp could not resist a good-natured jibe at Neville when asked what his
lockdown experience had been like.
“I didn’t learn a lot in lockdown, other than Gary Neville has an opinion
about absolutely everything. It is incredible,” Klopp told the BBC’s Football
Focus programme.
Liverpool were two wins away from winning the English title for the first
time in 30 years when the Premier League was postponed on March 13.
The league hopes to resume in mid-June and players are already returning to
training while observing strict social-distancing rules.
Klopp has been in touch with Liverpool’s squad, but he admitted it had been
hard to go so long without seeing them in person.
“I am quite proud how we as a society have dealt with it,” he said. “We are
not perfect. We will always make mistakes but I think we have learned how
connected we are to each other.
“I miss the boys the most because we created a group where all the people
at Melwood (training ground) have a really good relationship and we became
friends over the last four-and-a-half years.
“We saw each other with Zoom and other calls but it is still not the same.
Going back to Melwood and doing the things we usually do is something I
really miss.”
BSS/AFP/MRU/1820hrs