Klopp Admits To Having Second Thoughts About VAR
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has admitted to having second thoughts about VAR after an incident-packed Champions League game against Midtjylland on Wednesday.
The Reds, who had already booked their place in the knockout stages of the competition as group winners, drew 1-1 with the Danish side at the MCH Arena, with Mohamed Salah getting the opener for the visitors.
The hosts’ equaliser came via the penalty spot after Caoimhin Kelleher fouled Anders Dreyer, though the latter had initially been flagged offside until VAR intervened after a lengthy delay.
Midtjylland had another goal by Andreas Scholz ruled out for offside before Takumi Minamino’s 90th minute strike was chalked off after Sadio Mane was adjudged to have handled in the build-up.
The delays in arriving at a decision using the VAR worried Klopp, who was previously a vocal advocate for the use of the technology.
“It just took too long,” Klopp said after the game. “I didn’t see it back, if they were right or if they were difficult [decisions] to make, but it took three or four minutes, and in the cold for the boys, it’s really hard.
“I can already hear people saying, ‘my God, is he talking about that again?’ but it took a really long time and it was really cold. That doesn’t help!
“I used to be one of the people who said, ‘yes, VAR is a good idea’ but I’m really not sure if I would say that again, to be honest. Now we have it, and now we have to deal with it.”
