Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has admitted that he contributed to putting too much pressure on the comeback of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after the player’s return recently.
The England international has not been able to feature for the Reds ever since he suffered a horrible knee injury in the Champions League during April last year.
Oxlade-Chamberlain was plagued by injuries before his Liverpool career as Arsenal sold him to the Reds following several years of his failure to maintain an injury-free season.
After almost a year of remaining on the sidelines, the midfielder made his return by playing for Liverpool’s youth team in their match against Derby County at the start of this month.
But Oxlade-Chamberlain suffered another injury right after his comeback as he failed to even last the full length of the game.
Even though the 25-year-old is not expected to stay on the sidelines for too long this time, Klopp has admitted that it was a mistake to stir up the excitement over Oxlade-Chamberlain’s initial return from injury.
“How can I say, one of the biggest mistakes I made here was being so excited at having Ox back,” said the Reds boss, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo.
“Not because it is not exciting having Ox back because it is very exciting but the spotlight on the game at Derby in the U23 game was pretty rare.
“I am sure Ox felt a little bit after the last session with us and then he played the game and felt a little bit more.
“Now we keep him a little bit in the shadows; he is in a good moment and will train and when he is back and ready to be properly back then I will inform you.
“Until then I will not speak about Ox.”