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Jurgen Klopp reacts to loss of key coach and hopes for more requests for backroom team

Neil Critchley left Liverpool on Monday to become the new first-team manager of Blackpool

Jurgen Klopp reacts to Neil Critchley leaving Liverpool for Blackpool

Jurgen Klopp has congratulated Neil Critchley on being appointed first-team manager of Blackpool and hopes Liverpool field more requests for their backroom and coaching staff.

41-year-old Critchley, who led Liverpool to an FA Cup victory over Shrewsbury Town in February, had been with the club for more than six years.

He has now vacated his post as under-23 boss to join the Seasiders, who are 13th in League One.

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Critchley becomes the third Liverpool staff member to exit this season after club doctor Andy Massey and first-team physiotherapist Richie Partridge but Klopp insists he is pleased to see his backroom team headhunted.

"Congratulations to Blackpool and to Neil. It's a great thing," he said.

"It's a nice challenge for him and a nice opportunity for him. He wanted to take it and we said of course.

"It's really nice because it shows that it's possible you can make your way and as a youth or under-23 coach as well. That's always what we wanted.

"We wanted to have the best people in all the departments and all the coaching departments.