- Title: Liverpool's Klopp "relaxed" despite not securing all transfer targets
- Date: 18th July 2017
- Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (JULY 18, 2017) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** MEDIA TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIVERPOOL MANAGER, JUERGEN KLOPP, SAYING: (ON POSSIBLE INCOMING TRANSFERS) "So no, nothing new to say about this. I could imagine probably before you asked the question, but I cannot clarify anything so it's like it is - it's a transfer market, so everything is open until the 31st." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIVERPOOL MANAGER, JUERGEN KLOPP, SAYING: "No, what do you mean with frustration? In fact I have all the players I want so until now, I'm not easy to frustrate so it's a thing, that's a market so you go for things - sometimes they work out, sometimes not. That's how it is. It's nobody's fault, it's like this. I'm still relaxed." MEDIA AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIVERPOOL MANAGER, JUERGEN KLOPP, SAYING: "Not really concerns, because it's football and I think the weather forecast I think is quite positive, should be better tomorrow. The pitch, we were there yesterday, obviously drainage works really well, so when it stops raining, I think a few hours later it will be ok. So always in life we need a little bit of luck, then everything will be fine. For the game it's not a big problem because both teams will have the same circumstances so we will see how it looks then. We are out there in Hong Kong at the moment checking different surfaces for us to train, where we can go and all that stuff so it's like this situation is like football is - you always need to find solutions." MEDIA AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIVERPOOL MANAGER, JUERGEN KLOPP, SAYING: "I think the rules are all teams are allowed to win the Premier League, right? So, yes, then, obviously it seems to be possible." REPORTER ASKING: "What gives you that kind of confidence if you believe you can?" KLOPP: "The rules. It's possible, so that's it. I thought the BBC is the most serious broadcaster of all, I don't know how you came, you come from another?" REPORTER SAYING: "Juergen I followed Leicester City for 10 seasons, I'm well aware anyone can win the Premier League." LEICESTER CITY MANAGER, CRAIG SHAKESPEARE, ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE MEDIA TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS AT NEWS CONFERENCE SHAKESPEARE AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) LEICESTER CITY MANAGER, CRAIG SHAKESPEARE, SAYING: "I think Riyad (Mahrez) stated his position very clearly. Mine is really simple that while he's here and while we've had no bids and we haven't had any bids officially, they're all again speculation, he has to be committed to the football club and I have to say, in his two weeks that he's been back, he's been totally committed, he's really trained well and that's that. Outgoings are inevitable at any football club but until you actually get bids for your players there's no decision to make." REPORTER ASKING: "So you're saying you haven't had a bid for Riyad as yet?" SHAKESPEARE: "Yes." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) LEICESTER CITY MANAGER, CRAIG SHAKESPEARE, SAYING: "Well you saw Harry (Maguire), he's got Premiership experience. I think he's a good age. We needed cover in that centre-back position. With (Vicente) Iborra, I think his pedigree speaks for itself. He's captained Seville, they've won European trophies and early doors you see how he's settled into the group and his quality of play - he'll be a great addition." REPORTER ASKING: "That says something about competition for places as well when you can bring in players of that calibre, doesn't it?" SHAKESPEARE: "I want competition for places. I think players want competition for places. I think we need that and thankfully the club have backed me in that as well." REPORTER ASKING: "What do they say about your targets for the season as well?" SHAKESPEARE: "We'll have targets. A lot of them will remain internal, in terms of me and the players and the coaching staff, but of course realistically we know the premiership becomes harder each year, everyone invests heavily and we're no different but we have to be competitive." MEDIA AT NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 1st August 2017 10:26
- Keywords: Liverpool Leicester City Juergen Klopp
- Location: HONG KONG, CHINA
- City: HONG KONG, CHINA
- Country: Hong Kong
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0016Q8UAF3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Liverpool manger Juergen Klopp said on Tuesday (July 18) that he's "relaxed" about the club's relatively quiet transfer market so far.
Liverpool, who finished fourth in the league last season, have added only winger Mohamed Salah and 19-year-old striker Dominic Solanke ahead of the new season.
Klopp said that while Liverpool had been unable to complete deals for other targets, it was perhaps more important that they had managed not to lose anyone from their core group.
It has been 27 years since Liverpool were last crowned English champions but Klopp was upbeat about his team's chances for the upcoming season.
Leicester City have yet to receive any bids for winger Riyad Mahrez, according to manager Craig Shakespeare, despite the Algerian announcing his intention to leave the Premier League club at the end of last season.
Mahrez has been linked with a move to AS Roma but the 2015/16 Premier League champions had not been contacted by the Italian side about a transfer for the 26-year-old, Shakespeare said.
Liverpool and Leicester are among four English top flight teams in Hong Kong this week to play in the Premier League Asia Trophy, with Liverpool set to face Crystal Palace at Hong Kong Stadium on Wednesday (July 19).
Leicester will take on West Bromwich Albion on the same day.
Shakespeare will be able to give new signings Harry Maguire and Vicente Iborra a run out against Tony Pulis' side and the Leicester manager believes he has strengthened his squad after a difficult campaign last year as defending champions. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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