Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has apologised after going back on his initial invitation of urging fans without tickets for the Europa League final to travel to Basel anyway.
Liverpool face Spanish club Sevilla at St Jakob-Park on May 18 as Klopp looks to end an encouraging first season in charge with some silverware.
Basel’s stadium only holds 38,000 fans and Liverpool’s allocation is a mere 9,000.
That means the rush for tickets will be intense, but Klopp originally told Liverpool fans to head to Switzerland anyhow for a party.
European governing body Uefa and Liverpool have both intervened though, and the club’s manager rescinded his invitation in crystal clear terms after Sunday’s 2-0 Premier League victory over Watford.
“I just learnt this is the 49th game (of his Liverpool career), you usually need one-and-a-half years for that — and that’s about 5000 press conferences!,” Klopp said.
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“I’ve said lot of things in this press conferences, I don’t remember them all, but the last time I spoke, I spoke about Basel, and I spoke like a supporter. I do it sometimes, because I like this game.
“I invited all Liverpool fans to Basel, and that was not too smart to be honest, and it is a nice city but it’s not ready for us. And that was my mistake.
“So I have to take back my invitation to the fans, and please only people with tickets should go there, because everything else will be chaos.”
Meanwhile, Klopp said he was happy enough with Liverpool’s low-key victory at Anfield after goals from Joe Allen and Roberto Firmino sank Watford.
The contest failed to capture the imagination as both teams have virtually finished caring about the Premier League this season.
Watford are mathematically safe after exceeding expectations season, whereas Liverpool are focused on the Europa League final against Sevilla in Basel on May 18.
Liverpool cannot do anything of real note in the Premier League and it showed as they barely got out of first gear against Watford.
“It was not brilliant but we did what was necessary,” Klopp said. “It was professional and we deserved to win.
“I want us to be really consistent in all the games. When I came here it was not too easy to win here. It’s good but Anfield is a special place.
“It wasn’t the highest intensity or the most brilliant performance from the team or the crowd but it was nice to enjoy a Sunday afternoon.”
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