Broadcasters, five subs and ‘selfish’ Chris Wilder — transcript of how Jurgen Klopp lost his cool with BT Sport presenter

Des Kelly: Jürgen, that’s a painful setback. We are talking about Var again. Was it just, was it right, was it correct?

Jürgen Klopp: I think the situations, the two offsides I asked, our analyst said it was really close with Mo [ Mohamed Salah]. It was a foot. But we are used to armpits and club badges, so if it is a toe then it is obviously offside. The other one with Sadio [Mané] was clear, I heard. The penalty, yeah. It is how it is. I think the decisions were right, yes.

Kelly: You think the decisions were right but Jordan Henderson has said some of the Brighton players agreed it wasn’t a penalty.

Klopp: Yeah but the ref… Look, you try to create again on my cost, you do, a headline. Because that’s how it is. If I say now it was not, the ref whistled it. Don’t look like this. Always, all the time. Today I say it was a penalty and you are not happy with that answer. What do you want to hear? Then give your answers yourself.

Kelly: I was just telling you what your players said.

Kelly: James Milner, hamstring is it?

Klopp: Yeah, congratulations. 

Kelly: What, me personally?

Klopp: No. But you work for them. Hamstring, yeah. Surprise. And they had injuries as well. Because it is a tough time. But ask Chris Wilder how we can avoid that.

Kelly: Maybe you are firing at the wrong target. We are broadcasters, we work within the Premier League rules, and the Premier League makes the rules for Premier League clubs. So shouldn’t Premier League clubs be talking to chief executives…

Klopp: I don’t know how often I have to say it — you picked the 12.30 kick-off. Not you personally but you did it. Between now, December and the New Year there is one more Wednesday, Saturday 12.30. 

Kelly: When you say ‘you picked the 12.30’, the big clubs chose that slot. There is a reason that slot is there, it is valuable to the Premier League. 

Klopp: I said it now a couple of times these are difficult times.

Kelly: The stadiums are empty, of course it is difficult times, for broadcasters, supporters…

Klopp: If you play at three o’clock, 5.30 it is the same. 

Kelly: Your chief executives should be with the other chief executives having that discussion. If you just have a go at the broadcasters it doesn’t go anywhere or change anything.

Klopp: I’m not having a go at the broadcasters, I’m just saying it how it is. After Wednesday, Saturday 12.30 is really, really dangerous for the players. 

Kelly: You also said the broadcasters don’t care and that is the problem. It isn’t the problem. The problem is…

Klopp: Why did you pick us then against Crystal Palace if you care?

Kelly: I didn’t pick it but it is agreed by the Premier League.

Klopp: It is such a special season and you always rely on things agreed in another time. Yes, you did. 

Kelly: Listen, if it was all about player welfare then why did Premier League clubs block the five subs?

Klopp: That is very interesting now. When we had a talk between the managers it was 15 of not 16 for five subs now. Since then nothing happened. So because you need at least 14 votes but Chris Wilder or whoever says constantly I am selfish. I think all the things he has said show he is selfish but they are not too important. I was in a similar situation that he was when I was at Mainz and it was all about staying in the league. They now have three subs and one point if I’m right. So there is no advantage or disadvantage. If you can do five subs in a game like this it is not for tactical reasons. Today if I have five subs for example I take off Robbo 100 per cent and bring Kostas [Tsimikas] on to save Robbo [Andrew Robertson], not to make our game better. That is the situation. It is not about we change tactics and the system and things like this. It is not like this, it is just to save the players. Of course I save my players but it is not just my players who have the problem. You will see from now on to December you will see it. 

Kelly: We agree with you and we see it, but you are going about it in a strange way. You are attacking the broadcaster instead of getting the support you need in the Premier League meeting.

Klopp: I am 100 per cent sure you will get praise now for that interview because you stuck on it so, great. What I want to say is I only go for broadcasters with Wednesday and 12.30. Only seven managers have the same problem and they all agree. Jose said now I should stop doing it. Actually I wanted to stop doing it as it doesn’t help. The problem is we have a contract. Yes, our CEO’s, shareholders, whatever. In this season it is a bigger problem because of no pre-season, intensity and all this stuff. When we have this slot I say it is not OK. I am not selfish but I speak about Liverpool. When this year is over we have this slot three times. Look who else had it three times — no-one. Of course it is a problem for me, I can’t pick a team.