Jurgen Klopp has ridiculed the concept of a US-style all-star Premier League game proposed by Chelsea’s new chairman Todd Boehly, asking if the Harlem Globetrotters will also participate.
The Blues’ new co-owner Boehly, who also owns shares in the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Lakers, disclosed at a New York conference that he has already broached the subject with Premier League rivals.
Both Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association (NBA) hold all-star exhibition games that feature the best players from each league and conference.
Boehly, when presenting at a Salt “thought leadership” conference, suggested that the funds earned may be utilized to fund lesser gaming levels.
“People are discussing additional money for the pyramid; during this year’s MLB All-Star Game, we made $200 million in two days,” Boehly added.
“Therefore, we believe we could easily organize a Premier League all-star game pitting the north against the south for whatever the pyramid requires.”
However, Klopp strongly opposed Boehly’s idea, citing the already crowded English football schedule.
The Liverpool manager remarked, “He doesn’t take his time.” “When he finds a date, he can contact me.
“In American sports, these athletes receive four-month sabbaticals. Does he also wish to bring the Harlem Globetrotters (a basketball exhibition team)?
Perhaps he can explain. It’s unlikely that people would want to watch (Manchester) United players, Liverpool players, (Manchester) City players, and Everton players all playing together. The team is not the national squad. Did he actually say that?
Boehly, whose consortium completed its acquisition of Chelsea in May, also revealed the club’s dismissal of Thomas Tuchel.
Graham Potter replaced Tuchel after Chelsea’s humiliating 1-0 loss to Dinamo Zagreb last week. Tuchel had led Chelsea to the Champions League title in 2021.
Boehly implied that his friendship with the German was deteriorating.
“When you acquire a business, you must ensure that you are aligned with the individuals who are running it,” stated the American.
“It is evident that Tuchel is a gifted individual who achieved enormous success at Chelsea. Our objective for the club was to locate a management and coach who were genuinely interested in collaborating with us.
It wasn’t about Zagreb; it was about our common vision for the appearance of Chelsea.
Boehly also indicated that Chelsea intends to operate a multi-club structure similar to the City Football Group, which owns the Premier League champion Manchester City.
He stated, “We will be continually expanding resources.”
“We have discussed having a multi-club model. I’d love to continue expanding the footprint.”
AFP