In the eyes of Jürgen Klopp, the media should stop making players and coaches accountable for the political circumstances of the World Cup in Qatar. The Liverpool FC coach sees the journalists themselves as primarily responsible.

"I'm going to look at the tournament from a sporting perspective and I don't like the fact that the players are increasingly finding themselves having to send a political message," said Klopp at the press conference ahead of the away game at Tottenham Hotspur.

"Now we tell the players that they have to wear this or that armband and if they don't they're not on this side and if they do they're on another side..." continued the German trainer away. "No, no, no - these are footballers. It's a football tournament, the players go there to play and to do the best for their country."

Speaking to the media, Klopp said: "I see these interviews all the time: 'What's it like to be here?' and all these questions. I really have to say that I don't think it's okay if you keep asking the players these questions. Just let them play the games - the players and the coaches."

"You are all journalists. You should have made a statement much earlier. You did not report critically enough. All of us, you more than me, let it happen [the tournament allocation] twelve years ago."

The ex-BVB coach also made it clear in relation to England national coach Gareth Southgate: "Don't keep putting Gareth Southgate in a situation where he has to comment on everything. Just like me, he's not a politician. He has an opinion, but he's not a politician. He's the England manager. Let him do it. If you want to write something else, do it. But do it yourself and stop asking us."

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This article was originally published on 90min.com/de as Klopp on Qatar: Players and coaches are 'not politicians'.