Arsene Wenger and Jürgen Klopp have great respect for each other. The two coaching legends now spend their working days at FIFA and Red Bull’s football machine, respectively. Before the Club World Cup, Klopp came out strongly and criticized the tournament as worthless and downright devastating for the clubs who have to deal with yet another challenge for the regular season. Heading into the final, Wenger now gives the German his answer.
“I’m going to give a very boring answer to a very interesting question. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I don’t agree with Jürgen Klopp’s way of looking at it at all,” Wenger told BBC Sport.
READ: New, exciting signing in place at Manchester United!
“I think it has to be a Club World Cup. If you ask all the clubs that have been here, 100 percent of the feedback will be that they are ready to do it again. That is the best answer to what the clubs think about the Club World Cup,” says Wenger and continues.
“And the crucial question is whether the fans like it or not?” We think the response was estimated to be low, but in reality it was much higher. The answer lies there.
Read on F7: Former Sandefjord coach Marti Cifuentes on his way into big job in England
Okay, the Club World Cup is almost over and can certainly be defended to be a success in several areas, but what Klopp is worried about is what happens in the next few months. Then a bunch of tired players in the UEFA zone will throw themselves into the new season with a packed match schedule.
Only in six months will there be a basis for evaluating the success of a Club World Cup. Sorry Wenger, but we think Klopp is the one who gets it right.
