Jurgen Klopp says Club World Cup ‘worst idea ever implemented in football' due to calendar concern
Former Liverpool boss Klopp, now head of global soccer at Red Bull (RB Salzburg competed in this year's Club World Cup but were eliminated in the group stage), raised the tournament's introduction when asked about developing players, and also drew on the volume of matches they play and the likelihood of increased injury risk.
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Speaking to German outlet Welt when asked about player training in specific positions, he said: 'In the end, it's all about the game and not the surrounding aspects — and that's why the Club World Cup is the worst idea ever implemented in football in this regard.
'People who have never had anything to do with day-to-day business or who no longer have anything to do with it come up with something.'
Speaking specifically on player workload, Klopp said: 'Last year we had the Copa America and European Championship, this year the Club World Cup and next year then the World Cup.
'This does not mean any real recovery for the players who are there, neither physically nor mentally. An NBA player, who also earns a big salary, has a four-month break every year. This is what (Liverpool defender) Virgil van Dijk got in his entire career.'
The Club World Cup began on June 14 and concludes on July 13. The new Premier League season kicks off on August 15, the new Serie A seasons kick off on August 23, La Liga and Ligue 1 on August 17, and the Bundesliga on August 22.
Ahead of the tournament, FIFPro — the global representative organisation of player unions to ensure their collective recognition — called for the introduction of a mandatory four-week off-season break to safeguard against excessive workloads at the elite level and ease a congested football calendar.
Concerns have also been raised regarding the heat in which Club World Cup matches are being played.
The group stages of the tournament concluded earlier this week, with the last-16 stage starting on Saturday.
(Joerg Mitter/Red Bull Content Pool via Getty Images)
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