London (AFP)
New episode in the battle between Jürgen Klopp and the organizers of football competitions: the Liverpool coach deplored Friday the change of calendar of the CAN, which will be played again in winter from 2021.
"The organization of the African Cup of Nations in January and February (after a 2019 edition disputed in summer, note) is a disaster for us, which makes us lose three players," deplored the German technician.
The winner of the last Champions League could indeed have to do without the African player of the year, the Senegalese Sadio Mané, the Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah and the Guinean midfielder Naby Keita during the CAN 2021, organized in Cameroon.
Historically organized in winter to avoid excessive heat, the African Cup was held in summer last year, a decision by CAF President Ahmad Ahmad.
On Wednesday, the African Football Confederation however confirmed the return to winter programming as of the next edition of the CAN.
In recent weeks, Jürgen Klopp has become accustomed to critical statements about the density of the calendar.
To compete in the quarter-final of the English League Cup and the semi-final of the Club World Cup, scheduled for 17 and 18 December, Liverpool had to split its team into two groups, each participating in one of two competitions.
"Fifa, UEFA and the federations of each country must come together and settle this," Klopp said on Friday, but said he understood the arguments that led to moving CAN 2021 in winter.
© 2020 AFP