Manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed why he ignored Manchester United’s resignation, admitting that there were some concerns about negotiations with the Red Devils. The former Liverpool manager admitted he was put off by certain elements of United’s project and believed the timing simply wasn’t right for him.
Then, at Borussia Dortmund, Klopp finally rejected United, before taking charge at Anfield, where he led Liverpool to Premier League and Champions League glory. During that period, he watched the Reds dominate their fierce rivals, but had he accepted the Old Trafford hotseat history might have played out very differently. He had been named as manager David Moyes’ successor after the club made an approach in 2014, before Klopp opted to remain in the Bundesliga.
Appearing on the CEO Diary podcast, Klopp revealed that he had his doubts after discussions with United executives. “It’s difficult, we’re not in a private space, but there are a number of reasons other than just not liking the people participating in the conversation,” he said.
“I mean, United were such a big team that they were like, ‘We’re going to get all the players we want, we’re going to get him, we’re going to get him, we’re going to get him.’ And I was sitting there and I was like, ‘What?’ It wasn’t my project, it wasn’t my project, it was the wrong time, but besides, it wasn’t my project.
“I didn’t want to bring[Paul]Pogba back. Pogba is a sensational player, but things don’t usually go well. Or Cristiano[Ronaldo]we all know he is the best player in the world along with[Lionel]Messi.
“Bringing him back will never help. Back then in 2013, it wasn’t about Cristiano, maybe it wasn’t about Paul. I’m not sure, but the idea was: ‘Let’s get the best players and go with it.’
“I had no interest in[football]at all, so I was sitting there like it wasn’t for me. Then a pure football project came up and I ended up having a sensational conversation with Mike Gordon[President of Fenway Sports Group]which is also very important.”
“He’s the owner, but after I told him I wanted to be friends with John (Henry) and Tom (Werner) and Mike, he was such a nice guy. After that, it was very special.”
Explaining his views on Manchester United’s predicament, the 58-year-old said: “Ever since I joined Liverpool, I haven’t thought for one second whether United did the right thing or the wrong thing.
“I went to Liverpool and in that moment you became our enemy, not my enemy, but an important opponent and a much more fun opponent to beat.
“In football, just like in life, you know that in two days there will be another problem and you have to find a solution now. There is no long-term thing where you say, ‘I have to deal with it for two more days and then I can solve it.’
“We will have to deal with this for a year or two and then we can take a big step forward, because in football you run out of contracts, players move anyway, you sell him, but you are always in such a hurry just because you have to win the next game.
“For United, there were a couple of years where we weren’t happy and we were buying time even with Jose being second. No one was happy. Second place wasn’t good enough then and we’re not even close to it now, but that’s not about Man Utd, that’s about football.
“You win, you’re the greatest, you lose, you don’t know anything about the game, you tie, you’re bored, it’s just your ideas and where you want to go. Everything in life is about growth and you’re not the same as you were 10 years ago. That means the time between then and now is important.”
“I have to plan for my own life, for the medium and long term, and for the future of the football club. A footballer can score five goals, but it won’t solve the problem. I don’t know about United’s problems, but it was the same with Liverpool. The day we sold Phil Coutinho was not the day I thought, “Oh, I’m glad I have money.” I lost a player who I wanted to work with for the next 10 years.”
“It’s true that we invested wisely, but instead we found positions and sorted them out. We had to sort them out in some other way. We found two players, Alisson and[Virgil]van Dijk. It’s for the future from there and I think that’s the difference.”
