Jurgen Klopp responds to Chelsea owner’s 'North vs South All Star’ game idea | OneFootball

Jurgen Klopp has responded to Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly’s idea that the Premier League should introduce a ‘North versus South All Star’ game.

Boehly, who led a consortium to complete a £4.25 billion takeover of Chelsea in May, believes the Premier League could raise money for English football’s pyramid by introducing an exhibition match.

“I hope the Premier League takes a little bit of a lesson from American sports and really starts to figure out,” Boehly said at the SALT conference in New York, per the Daily Mail. ”’Why wouldn’t we do a tournament with the bottom four teams? Why isn’t there an All-Star game?’

“You could do a North vs South All-Star game in the Premier League and fund whatever the pyramid needed very easily. Everyone likes the idea of more revenue for the League.”

The idea has sparked a mixed response from fans. While some believe serious thought should be given to the idea, others feel Boehly’s plan has no place in English football.

Klopp responds to Boehly’s North vs South ‘All Star’ game idea

After his Liverpool side defeated Ajax 2-1 at Anfield on Tuesday night, Klopp was asked to give his thoughts on Boehly’s idea.

The revered German coach said in his post-match press conference: “He doesn’t hesitate, he doesn’t wait long! Oh great!

“When he finds a date for that he can call me! He forgets that in the big sports in America these players have four-month breaks so they’re quite happy to do a little bit of sport in these breaks.

“It’s completely different in football.

“What can I say? Does he want to bring the Harlem Globetrotters as well and let them play against a football team?

“I’m surprised by the question so please don’t judge my answers too much but maybe he can explain it to me at some point and find a proper date [for the match].

“I’m not sure too many people want to see that. Imagine that – Manchester United players, Liverpool players and Everton players all together in one team. It’s not a national team.

“Interesting game… and all the London guys together. Arsenal and Tottenham… did he really say that? Interesting…”

You can tell from Klopp’s comments and body language that he’s extremely sceptical about the idea. He doesn’t see Boehly’s plan working for two reasons.

First of all, there doesn’t appear to be enough time in football’s already packed calendar to crowbar in an All-Star game.

And secondly, the game would involve players from rival clubs being forced to play together – like a national team but with non-compatriots competing on the same side.