Jurgen Klopp slams Premier League medal rule: ‘Every squad member should get one! They can have mine’
Liverpool’s manager is perplexed by the need to make five appearances in the division to qualify for a medal
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Your support makes all the difference.Jurgen Klopp has challenged the Premier League to revisit their policy on winners’ medals as it fails to recognise the importance of the entire squad in terms of preparation for matches across the season as well as in creating a culture of excellence.
The Liverpool manager was unaware that a minimum of five top-flight appearances needed to be made in order for a player to qualify for one.
That figure was brought into play since 2012–13, halving the previous requirement of 10.
The champions receive 40 commemorative medals made of silver and can be distributed as per the club’s wishes, as long as every player who has made at least five appearances in the division this season gets one.
Liverpool have 21 members of the squad who meet that number, but the likes of Neco Williams, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott have only featured twice.
When Klopp was told they wouldn’t qualify for a medal, he was perplexed.
"I would rather we think about the rule again and make it so if you play one game you get a medal. If they play, they should have a medal to be honest and not have to play five games.
"I am not sure who came up with that idea but I don't think it is a good rule. People don't understand how important a squad is to win a championship. Even if you play no game, you should get a medal.
"If you are the second goalkeeper and you don't play, you should get a medal because you train five million times for a year and if you don't train at the highest level you have no chance to win a championship.
"So someone decides they need five games to win a medal? These boys will get a medal 100 per cent even if I have to produce it by myself. They can have my medal but it is not really the right rule. What is that?
"We have to win football games and it is not about that. we cannot just give the appearances away here and there. But if they deserve a medal they will get a medal, if not from the Premier League then from me."
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