Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has expressed his annoyance at the international break and the troubles it sometimes springs upon you as a club manager.
After watching his side beat Manchester City 3-1 before the international break, Klopp said he was hopeful all of his players would return to Merseyside without injuries.
Sadio Mane was playing in Swaziland with Senegal, meaning Klopp couldn’t keep tabs on the match.
He did however notice that Mane had been substituted at half-time, which sparked immediate panic that the forward had sustained an injury.
Thankfully for the Liverpool boss, his mind was put to rest when he got in contact with Mane following the match.
Klopp told The Athletic: “I hate the internationals! From a personal point of view, I just hate it.
“Sadio Mane played in Swaziland. You know nothing about games like this.
“He went off straight after half-time and you are thinking ‘oh’. These are the situations that kill me, to be honest.
“It’s just not knowing about what is exactly happening, trying to find out what we can do, what we have to do.
“As soon as Sadio got a phone we could get in contact but he’s the player, he’s not the guy who organises everything else around it. Dealing with things like this is not cool.”
Liverpool currently sit eight points clear at the summit and travel to Crystal Palace on Saturday as the Premier League returns to action.
The Reds are set to be without Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson, who are both struggling to overcome ankle problems.
Klopp admitted that he finds it challenging when his players are away on international duty and therefore out of his control.
“That’s why the last game before an international break is always difficult for me,” Klopp added.
“The final whistle goes and then I’m thinking ‘now they leave’.
“That’s the biggest problem in my working life.”
