Jurgen Klopp explains ‘respect’ for Adrian; doesn’t want him ‘written off’

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Jurgen Klopp says he has a lot of respect for the way Adrian handled himself this week. The Spaniard faced midweek disappointment.

Jurgen Klopp shocked everyone by leaving Adrian out of his starting XI against Ajax. Alisson Becker couldn’t play, which made the 33-year-old the obvious replacement.

But Caoimhin Kelleher started the game instead, making his UEFA Champions League debut. The Irishman went on to play well, too, keeping a clean-sheet in a 1-0 win.

That puts Adrian in a difficult position – one he won’t like. He’s behind a much younger player in the pecking order and one who lacks any real experience.

It’s a tough place to be, then, as the more games Kelleher plays, the more tempting an option he becomes. And the 22-year-old will only get better and better with that experience.

Thus it will have been a big blow to Adrian in midweek. Klopp, however, has a lot of respect for the way the Spaniard reacted.

Adrian’s reaction

“Adrian doesn’t deserve just to be written off now, there’s no reason for that,” said Klopp, per Liverpoolfc.com. “He supported Caoimhin in an exceptional way.

“After he got the information that he would not start, he behaved unbelievably.

“Really, really a lot of respect for that. He expected it actually, but anyway a lot of respect for it.”

It’s a sign of a good head that Adrian not only reacted well, but saw it coming. That’s exactly the reaction Klopp will have wanted and it’s no surprise that he has so much time for it.

It’s also the kind of reaction that will keep Adrian around. If he can handle a setback like this professionally and fight for his role back, Liverpool will want him at the club.

The real question, however, is whether Adrian will want to stay. Third-choice isn’t a nice place to be when you’re a goalkeeper in your 30s – whether you see it coming or not.