Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp can prove Thomas Tuchel wrong in FA Cup tie against Cardiff

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp’s previous comments and actions on playing youth team players in the FA Cup have been opposed by Thomas Tuchel, with the Chelsea boss claiming the game ‘isn’t about the youngsters’.

Klopp’s record in domestic cup competitions has largely involved fielding a team full of youth players; most notably when he did so and won in the Merseyside derby against Everton in early 2020.

Having beaten Shrewsbury twice in two years with a youth side, alongside beating Everton and Preston in similar fashion, the former Dortmund boss is a huge advocate of nurturing talent.

Yet comments made by Thomas Tuchel have refuted any form of youth involvement at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues took on Plymouth on Saturday’s early kick-off, although no youth team players started and just one made the bench in Teddy Sharman-Lowe.

And the ex-Paris Saint-Germain manager claimed that even in their game against a third division outfit, there was no time to think about including youngsters.

“This game is not about the youngsters,” Tuchel said.

“It is about being ready again after a one week break and one week of training. It’s about being ready to win the next game and restart the engines.

“All the respect to the young guys, I’m happy with them when we needed them, they performed very well, but the professional squad will take care of the Plymouth game.”

“Very, very difficult for different reasons,” Klopp said about the COVID-19 saga that ravaged them against Shrewsbury.

“So, this was the team we could line-up today and the boys did really well in a difficult game, which became even more difficult when we conceded for 1-0.

“But the boys reacted well, put in a really proper shift, and it’s so difficult because setting up a team, starting training again on Friday and then involving all these young kids.

“They are all really good footballers, there’s no doubt about that, we are not in doubt about that, so that’s all good. But it makes it really tricky, especially when you have to play and break down a low block, which Shrewsbury, rightly so, did today.”