Klopp names the only player exempt from rule of sacrifice

Matt Stead

Jurgen Klopp says that his footballing philosophy is built on sacrifice, and only one player would ever be exempt.

Klopp discussed a range of subjects in a fascinating interview with the Daily Telegraph over the weekend.

The Liverpool manager delivered his thoughts on Brexit, former club Mainz and his playing career.

But the German also spoke about the key to his success at Liverpool: sacrifice for the team.

“That’s how I understand football,” he said.

“You want to be part of a team, behave like part of a team. You can’t have all the benefits of being part of a team and then behave like a single star. If you want to do that, play darts.

“The main thing in the game is to make each other stronger. That is how I understand life but in a football team it is especially like that. Help your mate to be the best he can be and he will help you to be the best. Being selfish is always easier than being unselfish.

“It’s a double-job, caring about yourself and another. Only from outside do people think ‘He’s so big, you cannot tell him anything’. There’s no player in the world like that.”

Except for one: Lionel Messi.

“‘Ahem, Leo, we have Getafe on Saturday, if you were able to play that would be nice,'” Klopp adds, imagining a conversation with the Barcelona star.

“All the rest, they have to train, they want to train, they love the game.”