At the end of the month, international football is back: the World Cup qualifiers in Europe will open at a good time, and will connect to the qualifiers in South America that began last October. Seemingly a happy event, but given the problematic situation around the Corona – it also contains a not-so-simple dilemma for the various clubs: Should they release their players to the national teams, given the strict isolation conditions?
For example, in England the conditions require any person returning from a “red state” (ie countries with high morbidity) to enter 10 days of isolation, which of course will have an immediate effect on the groups. One who unequivocally opposed the isolation issue was Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, who announced at the press conference: “All clubs have to agree that under these conditions, it is simply impossible to release the guys, and then when they come back, isolate them. It is simply impossible.”
“I understand the need of the various associations, but there are times when we can not make everyone happy, and we must admit that the players end up getting paid by the clubs, which means that the clubs should be the first priority.”
According to the Times’ report, four Liverpool players who were supposed to go to the various teams in the next round, will remain in England. These are Alison Becker, Roberto Firmino and Fabino who are due to receive a summons for the Brazilian national team, as well as Diogo Giota who is to be included in the Portugal national team squad, as well as the African representatives Muhammad Salah, Sadio Mana and Nabi Keita.
And in the midst of all this, tomorrow Liverpool will try to maintain the positive momentum, when they meet Chelsea (22:15) at Anfield, after finally breaking a four-loss streak with the win over Sheffield United. Klopp will meet again his former Borussia Dortmund successor, Thomas Tuchel, and said of him: “We have known each other for a long time. We have a common history. He is an outstanding coach, and it will be difficult to play against him, because he is so good.”
