Klopp SLAMS France boss Deschamps after Liverpool win
Tom Weber
- Updated: 27 Oct 2023 17:15 BST
- 3 min read
Jurgen Klopp had some choice words for France boss Didier Deschamps after Liverpool's Europe League win over Toulouse.
The Reds strolled to a comfortable 5-1 victory over the reigning French cup winners on Thursday. Despite Toulouse managing to quickly cancel out Diogo Jota's opener, the French side couldn't stop the ensuing red avalanche that saw them hit for four unanswered goals.
Summer signing Ryan Gravenberch again impressed, earning praise from Jurgen Klopp after the game. "He's a good player," the Reds boss told TNT Sports. "I'm so happy for him that he starts really enjoying his football again. His first touch is incredible, his acceleration with the ball. He's not even halfway there. The good thing is that he has a lot of things to improve."
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However, when speaking to French media, the German struck a much harsher tone because of the conspicuous absence of Ibrahima Konate - which Klopp blamed on France coach Didier Deschamps.
What did Klopp say?
Speaking to RMC Sport, the 56-year-old said: “He [Konate] did not start tonight. He’s not even in the squad. I love absolutely everything about Ibou, but the problem is that Ibou has injury problems from time to time, and Monsieur Deschamps played him 90 and 87 minutes in the two games [against the Netherlands and Scotland], so we’ve used this time now to give him a little rest."
"He could have played tonight of course but he has to play on Sunday again. I told Ibou, tell Monsieur Deschamps, that’s how you rest a player. Not just three minutes. But we are more than happy with Ibou, fantastic boy and a super player and France can be really happy to have him.”
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Since joining the Reds from RB Leipzig in 2021, Konate has had three injuries that have seen him miss Liverpool games, with the latest coming in August.
