Following Konate’s injury, Didier Deschamps answers to Jurgen Klopp’s criticism of “rest”

After Jurgen Klopp recently criticised Ibrahima Konate for being left out of the France team owing to a hamstring issue, manager Didier Deschamps has responded.

Due to an injury sustained last week, Konate will miss France’s forthcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Gibraltar on November 18 and Greece on November 21.

Axel Disasi of Chelsea will take the 24-year-old’s place, the French Football Federation revealed in a statement on Sunday night, citing a “small muscle injury to his left hamstring.”

A “approximately two weeks” rehabilitation period has already been established, indicating that Konate should be ready for Liverpool’s November 25 match against Man City.

It follows sardonic criticism of Deschamps’ usage of Konate during the October break, with Klopp telling the French manager that “that’s how you rest a player” following the Reds’ 5-1 victory against Toulouse at home.

When questioned about Klopp’s remarks during a press conference on Monday, Deschamps stated, “It probably happened in the past and it will happen again at other moments.”

“Because national team managers and club managers have different circumstances and goals.

“Like any manager, I try to manage them.” They are able to handle them a little better during weeks when there are three games. We are here, and we are playing two games.

Didier Deschamps

French publication RMC Sport published Deschamps’ measured remarks, in which the 55-year-old went into additional detail regarding Konate’s injury.

The choice was taken not to jeopardise Liverpool’s No. 5 so that “there is no problem for the rest of season in this calendar year,” according to the former midfielder for Marseille, Juventus, and Chelsea.

“Ibou, as we previously informed you, did not participate in the Liverpool match in Toulouse, but he prepared for a potential role throughout the game,” Deschamps stated.

“He experienced a hamstring issue. His testing came back normal, though.

He requires some time to avoid taking any chances. He had already had an injury there.

Neither the player’s nor my interests were served by it. He could have only been available for training on Friday or Saturday, at best.

Joel Matip may still start for Man City against Liverpool, but if Deschamps is right, Konate should be ready.

More news…….

Jarell Quansah remains in place as England summons five Liverpool players.

Jarell Quansah remains in place as England summons five Liverpool players.

Jarell Quansah, who will remain with the U21s, was one of five Liverpool youngsters called up to the England youth teams for the November international break.

Against Toulouse, Quansah made his fifth start for Liverpool and had a chance to tie the score in the closing seconds, but his attempt was controversially disallowed.

It followed another impressive performance from the 20-year-old, even though the Reds gave up three goals and saw Caoimhin Kelleher lose two more games due to offside calls.

Prior to the match, Klopp stated that Quansah’s future was “very promising” and acknowledged that he was “surprised” by his pre-season potential.

This belief also extends to the Three Lions lineup, as the center-back, Harvey Elliott, and Tyler Morton are included in Lee Carsley’s England U21s roster for this month.

The England U21 team’s most recent qualifiers for the U21 Euros in 2025 are against Serbia on November 18 and Northern Ireland on November 21.

During the October break, Elliott donned the captain’s armband, while Morton, who was placed on standby last month, has now been called up due to his Hull loan performances.

With his loan club, Hull, Morton has started seven of the previous eight Championship games. Hull is presently tenth in the second division.

In the meantime, Luke Chambers, who is close to breaking into the Liverpool first team, has been called up to the England U20s squad for their matches against Italy on November 16 and Germany on November 20.

Calum Scanlon, another left-back with a lot of potential, has been called up by the England U19s for their matches in Marbella against Romania on November 15, Japan on November 18, and Mexico on November 21.

Scanlon made his senior debut for the Reds during the last 24 minutes of last month’s 5-1 victory over Toulouse, coming in for Chambers off the bench.

The lone Liverpool player in Gareth Southgate’s England team is Trent Alexander-Arnold