Jurgen Klopp responds to claims he dreamed of managing Manchester United
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has dismissed suggestions from a former colleague that he has long harboured a dream to manage Manchester United.
Eckhard Krautzun managed Klopp during his playing days at Mainz before the coach now in charge of Liverpool succeeded him as the club’s manager, with his suggestion that the German rejected the advances of the Old Trafford giants was a big talking point in recent days.
Krautzun told The Set Pieces that United were Klopp’s ‘favourite club’ as he set his sights on managing in England’s Premier League, but he has dismissed those rumours and insisted his former colleague is a little confused in his recollections.
“I heard about an interview of a former manager of mine,” said Klopp. “I really like Eckhard, but how it is, when I think too far in the past I’m not 100 percent in sure he was right or wrong, but it is still funny.
“I sure he thinks like this, but I was a player for Eckhard Krautzun at this time. How could I as a very average player at Mainz say to my manager, by the way if I become a manager I want to manage Manchester United. People think I’m crazy, but not that crazy.
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“I never thought about something like this. He (Krautzun) was a big admirer of Sir Alex Ferguson. In our first meeting when he came in, he had a jumper of Manchester United. He might not remember, but I remember!” I had fun when I read it, but not is all exactly as he said it.”
Injury
Klopp went on to play down the significance of Sadio Mane’s latest injury that will rule him out for six weeks and insisted his team can cope without their attacking talisman against United at Anfield on Saturday.
Klopp saw Liverpool’s season implode when Mane was unavailable for extended periods, but he is confident his team can cope without the Senegal forward in Saturday’s eagerly anticipated game against Manchester United at Anfield.
“Thank God we can still play football without Sadio,” declared Klopp. “Lots of teams got injuries from this international break. “Things like this happen. If you look around the world, a lot of players in this international break got injured.
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“You always hope that nothing will happen, but as long as they are not around, we don’t know exactly what happens. It’s quite difficult to get in touch with all the different FAs and all that stuff like this.
“I had a chat immediately after the game with Sadio, how I always do with the boys. It was not clear it would be that serious, but he said ‘I feel something in my hamstring’, so it was clear it would be at least close for the United game – and now we know it’s much longer.”
Klopp claimed the game against United was a big test for both sides, as he suggested the timing of the game could have been better coming straight after an intense international break.
“We have two days to prepare. It’s a pretty big game so maybe next time bring these teams together when we can work in the direction of this game,” he continued. “I’d love to ask the Premier League to give us both more time to prepare for a game like this.
“It’s a big, big, big, big opportunity. Performances are not as bad as people think. We are not so weak we don’t have a chance against Manchester United.
“Jose’s team play like they have to play in each moment. They are in a better situation than last year. They have fantastic players.
“Against us they played often pretty long, but they don’t always do this. We know they have big quality, but we are still positive. We look forward to it. One of the most special game in world football.”
