Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp reveals ‘special arrangement’ to get Philippe Coutinho back from Brazil
Star attacker will have to make 5,000-mile journey from Manaus to Merseyside ahead of Leicester clash
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JURGEN KLOPP has revealed Liverpool’s “special arrangements” for Philippe Coutinho’s return from international duty to try and ensure his freshness for Saturday’s clash with Leicester.
The Brazilian came off the bench to help his country defeat Ecuador 3-0 in Quito on Thursday.
Coutinho and his fellow Samba Boys are now preparing to take on Colombia in the notorious Arena Amazonia in Manaus, famous for its roasting weather conditions.
The World Cup 2018 qualifier will take place at 1.45am on Wednesday BST.
With the late kick-off, followed by a 5,000-mile journey from Manaus to Liverpool, the 24-year-old will have little time to prepare with his Liverpool team-mates for the visit of the Premier League champions Leicester.
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Kop boss Klopp, however, already has a plan in motion to try and ensure his star attacker is back quickly as possible from his homeland.
And despite his frustrations with the timing of this international break, he refuses to complain about it.
Klopp said: “I don’t get frustrated by things I cannot change.
“Actually, I don’t think any manager in this moment is happy about the international break.”
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, he added: “For Coutinho, he is coming back Thursday morning at 9am and only because we make a few special arrangements with flights otherwise he would come Thursday night so nobody wants this.
“But we cannot change so why should I complain? Not to change. It’s not the best moment in the season for splitting the squad again.”
Manaus was one of the host cities for World Cup in 2014 and was heavily criticised due to its extreme climate and its location in the middle of the Amazon rainforest.
The temperature for the Brazil game, despite it being an 9.45pm kick-off locally, is expected to be around 26 degrees with 85 per cent humidity.