"Klopp told me it was criminal to play in those conditions"

Liverpool and Atletico Madrid faced each other on 11th March in the Champions League last 16 second leg tie which will go down in history. And not only because of the result.

On 10th March, there was a La Liga game between Eibar and Real Sociedad behind closed doors which was the final match in Spain before Spanish football was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, the match at Anfield 24 hours later was open to spectators.

3000 Atletico Madrid fans travelled to Liverpool and after the number of people infected rose in the city, many pointed to the Atletico supporters as the cause for that.

Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti also referred to this controversy: "Klopp said to me that it was criminal to play under those conditions and I think he was right."

"Health is the priority and how to prevent the infection spreading. Everything else is secondary. I don't care when the season will resume and when it will end. That is the last thing on my mind right now," the Italian told 'Corriere dello Sport'.

In addition, Ancelotti referred to the possibility of having three weeks of pre-season ahead of hte next campaign: "I think it's a joke, pre-season is overrated."

"In 2006 we prepared for a Champions League qualifier in four days, Cafu arrived 24 hours before the game and we all know how that Champions League ended. Who has three weeks available nowadays? The important thing is to set a start date which is the same for everyone," he added.