Coutinho Back Injury Was Real, Insists Klopp

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp insists that the back injury that has kept Philippe Coutinho out of Liverpool’s first 5 games of the season was genuine. The player submitted a transfer request the day before the season started, with Barcelona circling. Liverpool rejected three bids for the player and he will remain with the club for […]
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sambafoot_admin
2017-09-09 14:23:00

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp insists that the back injury that has kept Philippe Coutinho out of Liverpool’s first 5 games of the season was genuine. The player submitted a transfer request the day before the season started, with Barcelona circling.

Liverpool rejected three bids for the player and he will remain with the club for now. Many were cynical about the authenticity of the injury, believing that Klopp was protecting the player in case he left the club.

Coutinho was able to train and play for Brazil during the international break and is in contention for Liverpool’s trip to Manchester City on Saturday. But Klopp is adamant that the player genuinely had a back injury in August.

"Yes, he went to the national team and trained normally, but now we have to prepare for a normal season so we have seven games [before the next international break] and we saw training this morning and thought ‘OK, maybe we should use him immediately’ because he was really good, but that doesn’t make sense.

"I know what people think, but Phil had the back problem a few weeks ago and couldn’t train. We have now to continue with the pre-season, not too long, but in a few sessions we have to give ourselves the time because in the next month we have seven games.

"We always have the same decision to make, ‘does he need training or can he play?’ and all that stuff. Yes, he will now do a little bit more than the other boys but he showed up in a very, very good mood and looks really promising."

Klopp says he has spoken to the player and his spirits are good, "Of course – all good, all good. Nothing else to say, actually, so he’s back and we had a really good conversation, so good," he told Liverpool.com. 

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sambafoot_admin
Sep 09, 2017