Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp says he was completely ‘shocked’ when he discovered that Manchester City had been barred from European competition for the next two seasons.
City were found to have committed ‘serious breaches’ of UEFA’s club licensing and financial fair play regulations and have therefore been slapped with a hefty €30million (£25m) fine in addition to the ban.
The Premier League champions intend to appeal the punishment and will take their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Speaking after Liverpool’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Norwich on Saturday evening, Klopp spoke of his surprise when he learned the news.
The German admits he ‘really feels’ for City and praised the work his counterpart, Pep Guardiola, has done during his time at the Etihad.
‘It was a shock yesterday. Complete, “Wow, what’s that?!” The only thing I can say… I’m a football coach so I can speak about football,’ Klopp told Sky Sports.
‘What Pep and Manchester City did since I’ve been in England is exceptional. It’s absolutely exceptional.
‘But all the rest, I have no idea. What happened, who did what and stuff like this but I can imagine at the moment it’s really difficult for the sports people to understand.
‘You believe the people you work with, that’s how it is, then they tell you this and that and obviously somebody sees it completely different.
‘I really feel for them to be honest, for Pep and the players, but that will not help.
‘They will appeal and we’ll see what happens then but it’s obviously serious otherwise UEFA would not react like that.
‘But the football they have played and play was exceptional and will be exceptional.’
Rio Ferdinand believes City’s ban will make the remainder of the Premier League campaign ‘very interesting’, with several teams battling for fifth place which will now grant entry into the Champions League.
‘Huge admiration for Pep and the Man City team with some friends behind the scenes,’ the ex-England and Manchester United defender tweeted.
‘In all seriousness will be interesting to see what happens at the appeal process! 5th place in the Premier League has just got very interesting.’
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