Jurgen Klopp was never shy about complaining during his career as Liverpool manager.

But it wasn’t only the classic managerial grievances, like refereeing calls, that the German raised.

Klopp would also rage about the ball, pitch, kick-off time, and quantity of games.

Since leaving the dugout, you’d be tempted to think he’d ease off the griping.

But as the expanded Club World Cup reached its latter stages, Klopp took aim with what was, even by his harsh standards, stinging criticism.

“It’s a pointless competition,” he said.

“Whoever wins it will be the worst winner of all time because they’ll have played all summer and then gone straight back into the league.

“There are people who have never been involved in the day-to-day business of football and are now coming up with ideas.“

Klopp believes the consequences will be felt next season.

“It’s too many games. I fear next season we will see injuries like never before,” he added.

“If not, then they’ll come during or after the Club World Cup. There’s no real recovery for those involved, neither physically nor mentally.“

Interestingly, his comments were well received by one of the managers currently fighting to be crowned as the inaugural champions: Pep Guardiola.

When asked about his former rivals’ statements, the Manchester City boss said,” Listen, I fought a lot with Jurgen many, many times. I know where his idea comes from.

“We fought a lot in England, and also when we went to the UEFA meetings, and especially when we discussed the Premier League calendar and how to add more quality to it.

“[We discussed]

giving the managers and players more rest because that’s how you add more quality.

“So his comments [on the Club World Cup] didn’t surprise me a lot. I understand him. I respect him. I’ve had an incredible relationship with Jurgen for many years as rivals. Now he’s stepped back from that position [as a manager], and I understand his argument because I would defend his argument as well.

“At the same time, as managers, we are in a job. We follow the FIFA, UEFA, Premier League, or Serie A rules. As managers, we don’t organize competitions. Once we are here, we are proud.”

“Many, many teams complain about these competitions because they are not here; otherwise, they might love being here.

“They would have their media and supporters here, and there would be income to be here, and they would be happy to be here.

The Data Doesn’t Lie

Guardiola arrived at the Club World Cup after enduring one of the worst seasons of his managerial career.

Injuries blighted his past campaign and saw a massive drop-off in performances.

Worryingly for Manchester City supporters, he suggested that the expanded Club World Cup involvement could wreak further havoc.

“Maybe in November, December, or January, it will be a disaster. We are exhausted, and the World Cup has destroyed us. I don’t know, but it’s the first time in our lives that this has happened.

“Mentally, I think in the past, the players have played in World Cups or European Championships for their national teams, so it happens sometimes.

“You need a rest mentally sometimes. You can recover, and then we will see when we come back.”

Financially, soccer has reached a point where the biggest sides cannot afford to reduce the calendar at the top end.

Games between Premier League or Champions League giants are too valuable to start reducing; club revenues rely on them.

Most fans will admit that, regardless of their personal views on the schedule, they tune in when a stellar clash in a big competition is on.

Even if they don’t admit it, the data doesn’t lie; that’s what people do.

The Club World Cup brings precisely those encounters at the latter stages, creating drama and jeopardy that sells.

The Recipe To End Disaster

In England, however, the calendar has fat that can be trimmed without causing widespread financial Armageddon.

A competition like the League Cup adds unnecessary games that no other country has. At the same time, throughout a 38-game Premier League season, many encounters have little commercial appeal.

Cutting the size of the division from 20 to 15 teams would increase the quality and jeopardy for every team.

It would also mean 10 fewer games, which, combined with the axing of the League Cup, would reduce the size of the most successful English clubs by a third.

The resistance would be from the smaller clubs in England whose finances rely on a 20-team Premier League and fear the consequences of relegation.

Also opposed would be traditionalists who believe things should remain the same.

However, a smaller division would undoubtedly enhance the Premier League product.

Just imagine it: at the start of the year, every team would be in a meaningful clash for Europe or relegation for most of the season.

Suppose clubs like Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur had campaigns as poor as the last. In that case, they’d actually face the jeopardy of relegation, while overperformers like Nottingham Forest would have an even better shot at Champions League qualification.

It’s radical, but it would solve Klopp and Guardiola’s concerns.