Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp feels the controversy surrounding Mesut Ozil and Ilkay Gundogan’s photograph with Turkish president has been taken way over the line.
Klopp wants the discussion about Mesut Ozil and Gundogan to stop.
The German players have been highly criticised after they posed for posed for a picture with the Turkish president in May. They were booed by their home fans during friendly matches and Ozil had to take too many criticism after their early World Cup exit.
Soon after the World Cup, Ozil announced retirement from International football stating disrespect and racism as reasons.
Klopp, who coached Gundogan at Borussia Dortmund, told Sport1:
“This is a classic example of absolute misinformation and, of course, complete nonsense. In politics, little things have always been blown up and big things pushed away in order to continue.
Normally, intelligent people tend to hold back because it is not easy to say the right thing. I would count myself [among those people] too. All those who have no idea are very loud in these conversations.
“I do not doubt these guys, at least about their loyalty to our homeland. The difference is that they just have one more thing [in their heritage]. Where is the problem? That’s beautiful.”
The Liverpool manager also explained why he feels this discussion is hypocritical:
“Cultural diversity, we all thought it was really cool around the 2006 World Cup. I saw these fantastic commercials where the parents of Gerald Asamoah and Mario Gomez had a barbecue party together. And now two guys are seduced by politically quite intelligent people to have a photo. Then have relatively few opportunities to say what they want 100 per cent right.”
“That’s why I find this discussion hypocritical. Bad things happened because people were not informed properly. Even the media should not create a buzz around something like this every day. Just cool off and see the people behind it.”
Meanwhile, Klopp’s men have started their Premier League campaign with two wins in a row. Liverpool trashed West Ham 4-0 at home while they took all three points away from home beating Crystal Palace 2-0.