Klopp Talk: “We should sign Thiago for January!”

The gaffer spoke about subs, Thiago, and being the world’s best
coach.

This week, Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp won the award for
The Best FIFA Men’s Coach, for the second time
running. And he was in high spirits during his press conference
today.

When asked about the award, he remarked with characteristic
humility, “If you asked me if I was the world’s best coach, I’d say
no. If you asked me if I had the world’s best coaches around me,
I’d say yes.” I mean, aww.

His comments were also sought on the rejection of the
5-substitute rule by Premier League clubs. He stuck by his stance
in favour of the rule, saying, “Everyone knows the 10 clubs who
voted against it. Pretty much it’s only them who have voted against
it in Europe or even the world. It wasn’t about advantages, it was
about player welfare.”

On Thiago Alcantara’s imminent return to the pitch, Klopp was
asked if he is eager to return, to which he said, “He is, he is. We
already made jokes here; I said, ‘I think we should sign Thiago for
January!’

“He gets closer and closer and he is in a good way, but we will
not rush it, we cannot rush it and he will not [either] because he
is not allowed to rush it. Of course, it’s nice having him on the
pitch, training, doing a lot of stuff, but he is not in team
training yet and that’s actually the final step.

“We will see how this weekend looks with him on the pitch and
then next week [see if he] can be in team training. I don’t know in
the moment 100 per cent. There are a few tests, he has to pass a
few tests on the pitch until we make that decision.

“That’s not only for him the case. With Millie it will be
similar, with Shaq it will be similar… if I forgot somebody it’s
not because I am disrespectful, it’s just a lot of players are
injured in the moment.”

He also expects Xherdan Shaqiri and James Milner to return to
full training next week. The Reds play Crystal Palace tomorrow at
Selhurst Park.