Klopp Waits on Manchester City 114-Charge Verdict Impact
Jürgen Klopp has declined to speculate on the consequences of Manchester City being found guilty of 114 Premier League financial-rule breaches, insisting he will wait for the process to develop before forming a view.
The findings concern the period from 2009 to 2018, which includes the opening years of Klopp’s Liverpool reign after he arrived at Anfield in 2015. City won the league three times during the period covered and have denied every charge, with an appeal expected.
Quick facts
- Manchester City were found guilty of 114 Premier League financial-rule charges covering 2009-2018.
- City deny the charges and are expected to appeal the decision.
- Germany meet Serbia in Munich on Thursday in Klopp’s third game as national-team coach.
- Bayern Munich goalkeeper Jonas Urbig is set for his first Germany appearance at the Allianz Arena.
- Germany then travel to Thessaloniki to face Greece on October 4.
Speaking before Germany’s Nations League meeting with Serbia, Klopp said the prospect of sanctions was not something he could affect. He also noted that a long-running legal case could take further time if City pursue an appeal.
“I have seen it, but I have not spent much time thinking about it,” Klopp said. “Whatever punishment may follow is not my responsibility. With proceedings that have lasted this long, you would expect another legal stage, and that could take a long time too.”
Klopp had previously suggested he could attend a celebratory parade if City’s titles were affected, but he said his feeling had changed. He stressed his regard for Pep Guardiola, City’s standard of football and the intensity of their rivalry with Liverpool.
“My respect for Pep Guardiola and for the football City produced when we faced them is too high for me to say more now,” Klopp said. “They were an opponent for us at the absolute top level.”
Germany’s immediate concern is their search for a first win of the international window. Klopp has selected separate groups across four matches, and regular captain Joshua Kimmich has already left camp after playing in the 1-1 draw in the Netherlands and the surprise home defeat to Greece.
Klopp would not reveal who will replace Kimmich as captain in Munich, but confirmed that the player with the highest number of international appearances in the selected side will lead Germany out.
He also strongly indicated that Urbig will start against Serbia at his Bayern home ground. The coach stopped short of naming his full XI, while confirming that the goalkeeper would not receive the armband for his debut.
Urbig said he was relishing a first senior international appearance in familiar surroundings. “You work towards a moment like this for your whole career,” he said. “To have the chance to play here in our stadium and help the team get its first victory is something I am very happy about.”
The 22-year-old added that he was not focused on the longer-term battle for Germany’s No. 1 shirt, saying his priority was to improve each day and allow other matters to develop naturally.
Germany have gone four matches without a victory, a run that follows a World Cup last-32 elimination by Paraguay and a group-stage defeat to Ecuador. Serbia arrive in similarly difficult form, having lost their two Nations League games 2-1 against the Netherlands and Greece after heavy summer defeats to Cape Verde and Mexico.
Klopp expects a disciplined Serbian side comparable in approach to Greece, particularly if the visitors defend deep. He pointed to Serbia’s experience and individual quality, warning that they possess players capable of managing difficult moments and disrupting opponents.
“A team that defends low is a serious problem for every side, regardless of its stage of development,” Klopp said. Germany complete this September and October Nations League schedule away to Greece in Thessaloniki on October 4.
