Former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has said that he hated being rotated with Loris Karius during his spell at Anfield.
Speaking to Belgian outlet De Morgen, Mignolet claimed that Jurgen Klopp’s rotation policy between the two ‘keepers ‘didn’t work.’
“I’m not a fan of it [rotating goalkeepers]. For us, it’s better to play a lot of matches, to make sure you’re ready over and over again. If you are taken out week after week, you lose your rhythm. I don’t think that’s ideal,” said the 34-year-old.
“I experienced it at Liverpool with Jurgen Klopp and Loris Karius. I played one week, not the next. That doesn’t work. A goalkeeper should be a resting point.”
Klopp justified in Mignolet rotation
Perhaps Mignolet’s recent good performances have started to go to his head. The Belgium international was recently hailed as one of the best ‘keepers in the world right now.
But during his time at Liverpool, he was a million miles away from that.
Instead of pinning the rotation policy on Jurgen Klopp, perhaps Mignolet could have a look at why his manager was forced into such a move.
It isn’t as though this is something Klopp has regularly done whilst at Liverpool. Since Alisson Becker came in to replace Mignolet, he has been the undisputed No.1.
Rather, it was because of the manager’s distrust of Mignolet that he needed to look for a replacement in the first place. When that replacement turned out to not to be the answer either, Klopp simply couldn’t decide between the two.
Of course, that isn’t ideal, in that sense Mignolet is right. But the trust of the manager should be earned, not simply given. The reasons for Klopp not placing that trust in the Club Brugge ‘keeper were pretty clear to see.
Anyway, at the point of Karius’ infamous night in Kyiv, the German was more-or-less the permanent No.1. Had it not been for his Champions League final meltdown then maybe he would have stayed that way.
As it was, Liverpool simply went out and got the best in the business. It would be interesting to hear whether Mignolet had the same opinion when he was sat on the bench week after week watching Alisson win the hearts of the Anfield crowd.
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