JAKARTA - Jurgen Klopp has openly expressed his displeasure at receiving questions that remind him of the injury incident to Diogo Jota in last season's Champions League match.
Last season, Klopp still fielded Jota in the last Champions League group stage match against FC Midjylland even though the match had not affected Liverpool's qualification to the round of 16.
In that match, Jota was injured and had to spend almost three months in the treatment room, even though the Portuguese striker was in a slick performance trend.
This time, Liverpool have also made sure of qualifying for the round of 16 after sweeping wins in the first four Group B matches and will undergo another game without betting when they host Porto at Anfield on Thursday morning WIB.
This situation provoked questions from journalists at a pre-match press conference who were looking for information on whether the Jota incident last season would be taken into consideration in the line-up decision against Porto.
"It's easy to just sit there and say 'Save him, save him.'," Klopp told Liverpool's official website.
"If we keep all the players that are considered important and field a line-up that is not of the level of the Champions League, which we honestly don't have enough of, then we will not create the risk of someone getting injured."
"In answer to the first question, I have emphasized how much we respect the integrity of this competition. We must field a line-up that at least gives a chance to win."
"Diogo's situation is very unlucky and I hate taking that decision. But if asked if I would do it again? I would say yes, because it is necessary for balance."
"So, it's not fair that you bring up old stories about injured players. Everyone can get injured. This kind of thing can happen and hopefully tomorrow nothing will happen," said Klopp at length.
Klopp insists that he will continue to field the best line-up that can open up opportunities for Liverpool to win over Porto.
The German coach also gave updates regarding the condition of Jordan Henderson and Andy Robertson who returned from playing for their respective national teams in a state of injury.
According to him, both of them are quite fit and ready to go down from the start, but he doesn't want to make a decision yet.
"Whatever line-up we use tomorrow, it's all about winning that game, the next game and so on."
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