Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net

Jurgen Klopp hit out at the Club World Cup by calling it the "worst idea ever" in football(Image: PA)

Bulgarian football legend Hristo Stoichkov has hit back at Jurgen Klopp's criticism of the FIFA Club World Cup, saying the former Liverpool manager “should show more respect” to the competition.

The ex-Barcelona star and 1994 Ballon d'Or recipient, who is now a FIFA ambassador, defended the tournament, which is currently being played in the United States.

Last year marked a significant change for the tournament as the FIFA Council voted to expand the Club World Cup to 32 teams, cramming in 63 matches across a 28-day period.



And one man who has not been afraid to make his strong feelings known is Klopp.

The German, 58, hit out at the revamped tournament during an interview with German publication Welt am Sonntag, saying: “The Club World Cup is the worst idea ever implemented in football.

I have already participated in it when there were only a few games, but I think Gianni [Infantino] and FIFA have done something different.

“We have brought together many cultures, new systems, new tactics and many different teams that didn’t know each other before participating in a tournament like this.”

Article continues below

Klopp has long been vocal about prioritising player well-being.

During his nine seasons in charge of Liverpool, he regularly spoke out against the packed English football schedule and its toll on players' well-being.

DAZN has the rights to the full competition in the UK and the only way football fans can watch every game of the tournament free is by signing up here as part of a DAZN Freemium subscription.

Watch the Club World Cup free on DAZN

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it.

Learn more

£0

DAZN

Get DAZN here

The FIFA Club World Cup will see 32 of the world's best club teams including Man City, Chelsea, Real Madrid, PSG and Bayern Munich play across 63 games from June 14-July 13.

Fans can watch every match live and for free by signing up to DAZN.


For more news relating to Chelsea, visit our sister site Chelsea Latest Live.