Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has jumped to the defence of Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney after he was pictured appearing drunk while on international duty with England.
The Three Lions skipper apologised "unreservedly" for photos that were published by the press showing him looking bleary-eyed while socialising with guests at England's team hotel last weekend.
Interim manager Gareth Southgate gave the team a day off after sealing a 3-0 win over Scotland last Friday, and Rooney is believed to have spent the evening mingling with guests at a wedding party.
Klopp has suggested that the incident has been blown out of proportion by referring to a previous generation of footballers who "drank like devils".
"He's apologised for having a glass of whatever? I really feel for the players," the German coach told reporters in Thursday's press conference. "There's a human being behind the kid.
"All the legends you still love and all the guys you still admire drank like devils and smoked like crazy, and they were still good players.
"This generation is the most professional generation of footballers we have ever had. The legends drank like devils and were still good players. I'm pretty sure what Wayne did wasn't so serious. That's the life we live, under a [magnifying] glass and in one or two weeks no-one will remember this."
The Football Association intends to review its policy on how players and staff members spend their free time in between international matches.
Danielle Joynson
