Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp delivers verdict on Man City Champions League ban decision

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is “happy” Manchester City will be competing in next season’s Champions League – but described their Court of Arbitration for Sport victory as not a good day for football. 

The Sky Blues will permitted entry into the competition having successfully overturning a two-year suspension dished out by UEFA after being accused of breaching club licensing and financial fair play regulations.

A ban could have sparked a mass exodus from the Etihad Stadium, but Klopp believes it would have simply given Pep Guardiola’s outfit a major advantage in the hunt for Premier League glory due to a lighter fixture list.

“I don’t know if I can answer it,” he said. “It’s a serious subject.

“From a personal point of view I’m happy City can play Champions League, they don’t have 10-12 games less now in Premier League – no other team would have had a chance in the league.”

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“FFP is a good idea. It is there for protecting teams and the competition, so that nobody overspends and have to make sure the money they want to spend is based on the right sources.

“If the richest clubs and countries can do what they want to do, then that makes it difficult.

“That would lead to a world league, it would depend on who owns the clubs and not the names of the clubs.”

City will finish the Premier League season in second place, a long way behind champions Liverpool, who sewed up the title when Chelsea beat Guardiola’s men at Stamford Bridge. 

The Reds are hunting down City’s record-points total when they hit the ton in the 2017/18 campaign. 

They must win all three of their remaining games to break the mark.

A trip to Arsenal on Wednesday (8.15pm) is next up for Klopp’s men. 

James Milner is unavailable for the Emirates Stadium clash. 

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source: express.co.uk