Just when it appears he is ready to leave his punditry gig in favor of the German national team head coaching job, Jürgen Klopp is getting the hang of it.
When asked about FIFA waving off the rec card assessed to USMNT star Folarin Balogun, Klopp had a take — and boy, did he stick to it. Klopp was asked about the Balgun red card and the subsequent reinstatement, which might — or might not — have been prompted by a conversation between United States president Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni
Infantino.
“If that really was the case, then that’s crazy. Let’s just say — this is our game, not theirs. These two people, who both have no idea about football, should have nothing to do with that. That was a red card. There’s no two ways about it. We’re sorry for Balogun because he didn’t mean to do it. But that’s what the rules say,” Klopp said during an appearance on MagentaTV (as captured by @iMiaSanMia).
Klopp issued his take and is sticking to it, which represents some growth in the punditry position he holds — a far cry from when he (rightfully) said that Julian Nagelsmann should have rested Jamal Musiala against Curaçao. Klopp would have rather sat Musiala in a total mismatch than add more wear-and-tear on to his already beaten up body, so he could have him ready for more important games.
Good pundits have a take they believe in and do not waver under pressure (meanwhile, hot takers just spew nonsense for engagement). Klopp is learning from his mistakes and getting better — maybe that is something else Nagelsmann should have tried.
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