Liverpool strolled to a 2-0 victory against Watford at Anfield today, and afterwards, Jurgen Klopp's post-game interview betrayed a man who has had a word in his ear from his bosses upstairs.
After Thursday's semi-final victory over Villareal, Jurgen Klopp encouraged ticketless Liverpool fans to show up in Basle for the Europa League final. In thrall of victory on Thursday, Klopp was asked to comment on Liverpool's pitiful allocation of just 10,000 tickets for the final in St Jakob Park in Basle, and the German encouraged fans to turn up in Basle to have a party, regardless of whether they have tickets or not.
These comments have alarmed UEFA, and the European body got in touch with Liverpool, who then released the following statement this afternoon:
Liverpool Football Club is reminding fans who are unsuccessful in obtaining a match ticket not to travel to Basel for the Europa League final against Sevilla on May 18, 2016.
UEFA confirmed that Liverpool received an allocation of just 10,236 tickets for the game, which will be played at St. Jakob-Park in Switzerland.
Following meetings with UEFA and the Local Organising Committee in Basel on Friday, LFC is strongly advising fans not to travel to Basel unless they have an official match ticket.
Liverpool has fans all over the world and the club wants to make them aware that the surrounding infrastructure in Basel is only set up for match attendees. Transport will be restricted and all local accommodation is sold out.
Further information for fans travelling with a match ticket will be published on Liverpoolfc.com in due course.
Klopp was then forced to backtrack on his comments after the Watford game:
Jurgen Klopp says LFC fans without tickets for Europa League final should stay at home and 'let's (hope) we have a party after the final'.
— Chris Bascombe (@_ChrisBascombe) May 8, 2016
Klopp opened his press conference - unprompted - with this appeal. "I invited all LFC fans to Basel, which was not too smart."
— Chris Bascombe (@_ChrisBascombe) May 8, 2016
Klopp: last time I spoke about Basel, I spoke like a supporter, I invited all Liverpool fans to Basel - that was not too smart to be honest.
— This Is Anfield (@thisisanfield) May 8, 2016
Klopp: We have to send just the team plus 10,000. The rest enjoy the game at home with friends and family.
— This Is Anfield (@thisisanfield) May 8, 2016
Elsewhere, Klopp showered praise upon Joe Allen, and was less kind about the Anfield atmosphere:
Klopp: We did what was necessary, it was not a game for the LFC museum, it was a professional performance.
— This Is Anfield (@thisisanfield) May 8, 2016
Klopp: In the meeting today I told the team 'it would be good if we can play Joe Allen football'.
— This Is Anfield (@thisisanfield) May 8, 2016
Klopp: “Anfield is a special place although today was not the most intensity from the crowd. More like afternoon tea.” He says it how it is.
— Chris Bascombe (@_ChrisBascombe) May 8, 2016
UEFA could have solved themselves all of this trouble if they fixed the game for a suitable venue. Basle was chosen as it was Switzerland's turn to host a final, and St Jakob Park is the largest stadium in the country. Politics, it appears, is the winner once again.
