Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp admits it is 'not cool' to be without Brazilian star Philippe Coutinho and says he cannot understand why he wants to leave club
- Liverpool will be without Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho this weekend
- The coveted midfielder will miss Crystal Palace clash with a back injury
- Klopp insists he does not know why his player would want to leave the club
- Coutinho is wanted by Barcelona, who have seen two separate bids turned down
Jurgen Klopp admitted it is 'not cool' to be without Philippe Coutinho and says he does not know why any player would want to leave Liverpool.
The Brazilian playmaker has been the subject of two failed bids from Barcelona and is yet to play this season with what has been described as a back injury.
In Spain, it has not been the best of starts for the Catalan giants, who lost Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain and who have kicked off their campaign with two defeats to fierce rivals Real Madrid.
Philippe Coutinho has been the subject of two failed bids from La Liga side Barcelona
Jurgen Klopp is determined to keep hold of Coutinho amid heightened interest from Barcelona
But when asked if he would be using the apparent issues at the Nou Camp as a bargaining chip to keep Coutinho, who has handed in a transfer request, Klopp was unimpressed.
'Can you imagine for a minute I am not a little bit interested about the problems or not of Barcelona?' he said, before adding that he struggled to understand why players would seek an exit from Liverpool.
'In general, I think for each player Liverpool is a very good club, a very good team in this moment,' the German said. 'I don't see a lot of reasons for each player to leave the club at the moment.' Klopp, whose side host Crystal Palace on Saturday, admitted that it was a blow to be without Coutinho's ability.
'Every team in the world would miss a creative player in whichever position of his quality,' he said. 'That's not too cool but I am already used to it…that's how football works.'
Liverpool boss Klopp has said the situation surrounding the Brazilian star is 'not cool'
Earlier this week, Barcelona general manager Pep Segura said a deal for Coutinho, who Liverpool's owners have said will not be leaving the club in this window, was 'close' but Klopp believes that is not the case.
'I don't know why other people are saying what they are saying,' he said. 'I don't even know them – especially this guy, I've never even met him.'
Klopp added that the saga was not easy to deal with. 'We are all not silly,' he said. 'We know it is a very difficult situation but there is nothing new to say. It is not always easy for me to say the 100 per cent truth – even though I don't like to lie – but it is exactly how I say it because that is how it is in the moment, nothing else.'
With regards to strengthening his squad, Klopp confirmed that Liverpool are actively chasing targets and said that if injury struck it was not big enough.
'Of course we think about what we can do,' he added. 'But if the transfer window would have ended yesterday we already would have a team which I like and could play football with. Of course, injuries here and there are not too cool but in this moment it is still a good team.'
Barcelona target Coutinho may be kept against his wishes by Liverpool this summer
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