Klopp owns up to mistake over use of Liverpool star in Super Cup

Jurgen Klopp admitted that he made a mistake over his use of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in Liverpool’s Super Cup win over Chelsea.

Oxlade-Chamberlain was handed a first start in 16 months following a lengthy spell on the sidelines with an ACL injury, but was removed at half-time after being ineffective on the left wing.

The former Arsenal man featured more regularly as a central midfielder in his first season at Liverpool, and Klopp admitted the decision to withdraw Oxlade-Chamberlain from the action was because of one of his own mistakes.

“I didn’t say a lot to Ox [at half-time]. I don’t think it was necessary, because [for] Ox it was very important to have these minutes,” said Klopp.

“It’s a position he can play. He can play much better than he did tonight, but that’s how it is.

“After a long injury you have to get back the rhythm and in training it’s already there.

“And now in the game he had good moments, but of course not enough for his quality.

“But it was not about that. I saw it was a very intense game, so it was clear that we had to make that decision because we didn’t want to push him through.

“We want to give him the opportunity to perform, to shine if you want, and in those circumstances, on the position, it obviously was not as possible as we would have wished.

“But that’s then my mistake, not his mistake, because I made the decision.”

 

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