Klopp on the Club World Cup: "It's useless"

Jürgen Klopp has sharply criticized FIFA's expanded Club World Cup, even in his new role in the RB cosmos. "I don't like it. It's useless. Whoever wins the tournament is the poorest winner of all time, because they have to play through the whole summer," said the 57-year-old at his presentation in Hangar-7 at Salzburg Airport. From June 15 to July 13, the Club World Cup will be held for the first time with 32 teams, including the two German representatives Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

For Klopp, the strain on the top players is already too high and there are many injuries in European soccer. "We have to reduce the number of games," he demanded. There are other great sports to watch, he said. "Football doesn't have to fill every gap."

Klopp criticism in the summer: "It's always about the money"

Klopp had already described the international soccer calendar as "complete madness" last summer and called for a move away from more and more match dates. "FIFA and UEFA don't work together either. Everyone is looking to make the best cut for themselves. That is a huge problem." It's "always about the money", he said at the time.

Following his voluntary departure after nine years at Liverpool FC, Klopp has been Red Bull's Head of Global Soccer since January 1 of this year.

In addition to its international soccer commitments, the company, with former RB Leipzig boss Oliver Mintzlaff as Managing Director, is particularly involved in motorsport with Red Bull Racing, ice hockey with EHC Red Bull Munich, cycling with its own team and also in event sports.