Klopp blasts United, reveals why he rejected them

Football
By Mirror | May 24, 2018
Klopp turned down the chance to replace David Moyes at United [Photo: Courtesy]

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has opened up on why he rejected the chance to manage Manchester United after David Moyes was sacked from the club.

The German manager was speaking to Mirror Football columnist Robbie Fowler in an exclusive interview.

Klopp says other clubs he spoke to didn't sound like football clubs [Photo: Courtesy]

Though Klopp had previously admitted that United wanted his services, but never explained why he turned down the chance to replace Moyes. United then opted for Louis van Gaal instead before the German took charge at Anfield a year later.

When Fowler asked him why he chose Liverpool over United, Klopp explained that the other teams he spoke to didn’t sound like football clubs to him.

United then opted for Louis van Gaal [Photo: Courtesy]

He was quoted by The Mirror saying, ‘I love the history. I really am a football romantic. I knew I probably can help. They maybe really need me, in this time. I know what I'm good at.

‘When they told me about the problems they had I thought 'OK, yeah, I am probably the really right manager for that club.

Klopp and Fowler were chatting in Spain [Photo: Courtesy]

‘A little thing. Liverpool is a world class brand, big, big, big, but in Melwood, you know it Robbie, it is still a family, nothing else, and you can go in and feel that.

‘So when you see the pictures, and I realise it as well, by the way, I look still like a player... that's not cool, but that's me. I go in with a baseball cap and they still respect me, I don't have to act in a specific way.

‘They took me like I am, they didn't ask me to do anything else, so I could focus from the first day completely on football.

Jurgen Klopp (L) and Robbie Fowler (R) [Photo: Courtesy]

‘It is a football club. A football club.

‘I had talks with other clubs and they didn't sound like a football club. It sounded like marketing, image, you need to sign this, and you need to sign that. And I thought 'wow, that's not the game I love.

‘It's all part of football, but it cannot be the number one, two, three, four, priority. First of all please try to improve the game we play.

‘And that's what I am good in. All the rest can happen but it's not so important for me.’

Share this story
Organisers promise a special Eldoret City race on Sunday
Eldoret City Marathon’s One Mile elite race will be uniquely special, organisers said on Monday, as preparations for the Sunday showdown entered the homestretch.
Patel and Kipkorir defy the odds to win Coast Junior Open
Junior golfers proved tougher than the weather as they turned rain into memories at the 18-hole par 71 Nyali Golf and Country Club championship course.
Man City, Inter, Chelsea and Juve to face off pre-season in Hong Kong
English and Italian football giants Manchester City, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Juventus will square up for pre-season friendlies in Hong Kong in August, the clubs announced on Tuesday.
Kenyan double-double as Korir, Lokedi defend Boston Marathon crowns
Defending champions John Korir and Sharon Lokedi completed a Kenyan double-double at the Boston Marathon on Monday.
Olympic champion Gabby Thomas to headline sprints at Kip Keino Classic
International athletes have started jetting into the country for the seventh edition of the Absa Kip Keino Classic set for Friday at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.
.
RECOMMENDED NEWS