"Klopp has to pull himself together" - Souare

Liverpool's Naby Keita (left) with manager Jurgen Klopp after picking up an injury

Tuesday May 07, 2019. 17:00

The President of the Guinea Football Federation, Antonio Souare, has blasted Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp following his comments regarding the injured Naby Keita.

Klopp last week revealed that Keita faces up to two months on the sidelines after sustaining an abductor injury in the club's 3-0 defeat to Barcelona at Camp Nou, duly ruling him out of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Souare, though, has dismissed Klopp's claims, stating that the 24-year-old will be fit to play at the continental showpiece.

Souare told Football Factory Radio: “First we wish a very good and fast healing to Naby, as far as I know the adductors cannot prevent him from playing the African Cup of Nations 2019 that will be played from 22 June for Guinea.

“The adductors [injury] is two to three weeks of unavailability. The Liverpool coach has to pull himself together, let the doctors do their job.

“Naby Keita belongs to a state before belonging to Liverpool. I remind the Liverpool coach a little bit of the rules if he does not know it.

“So it's hasty and pretentious to make statements like this. What we do know is that Naby Keita will play at the African Cup of Nations 2019.”

Guinea kick-off their campaign against Madagascar in Alexandria on the 22nd of June.