Jurgen Klopp has suggested that his time as manager of Merseyside giants–Liverpool–could come to an end the season he lands a major silverware for the club.
The German tactician who is famed for his high intensity pressing style of football have helped re establish Liverpool as a force in the Premier League with his team boasting one of world’s football’s most destructive forward lines. But ahead of the premier League clash between Arsenal and Liverpool today at the Emirates, Klopp has moved to reveal that his stay in the Anfield dug out may not be anywhere as near as that of Arsenal’s manager, Arsene Wenger, whose 21 years stint at the North London club is unparalleled in the history of the competition.
The Frenchman moved ahead of legendary former Manchester United gaffer–Alex Ferguson earlier in July and given his two year contract extension signed in May, he is set to stay around for a while longer.
Meanwhile,Klopp–in his relatively shorter stint as manager– has only spent seven years apiece as manager of both Mainz and Borussia Dortmund and that will not change at Liverpool as the charismatic coach, who still holds an aspiration to return to Germany to coach Bayern, has said he will walk once he secures his Anfield legacy with a major silverware.
“Stay here 20 years? Don’t know, don’t know,” said the Reds boss.
“A few weeks ago I saw a statistic for the longest-serving coaches in the Bundesliga and I’m the record coach of two clubs – Mainz and Dortmund.
“It would be quite difficult to become the record coach at Liverpool. I don’t know. As long as it works really, really well.
Klopp is into his second full season as manager of Liverpool having joined the Club from Dortmund in the Winter of 2015. His first season was remotely successful as he led the club to final appearances in the league cup and Europa League. In the latter, Liverpool suffered a heartbreaking 3:1 reverse to Sevilla, though, having taken the lead earlier in the game through a Daniel Sturridge strike.
“That means there must be space for improvement, because even if you win something, which everyone here is desperately waiting for, it could be the moment I say, ‘okay but now we have to leave it’. That is the moment nobody thinks of doing it, going out at the top”, Klopp continued
“So far I think I have a very good feeling for these moments. In both situations, I think it was the right moment for both sides, for both parties, the clubs and me and my coaching staff. We will see. I don’t feel I am close to that moment and everything is fine.”
In furtherance of his claims, Klopp said:”If anyone thinks they can make a similar career like Alex Ferguson or Arsene Wenger in clubs, I’m not sure it would be possible with the media of today.
“I think Arsene gets a lot of criticism. I’ve seen it since I’ve been in England, I’m aware of it and for sure it’s not right.
“But he’s still there and he’s doing a brilliant job again. He’s still top five, six, fighting for fourth and being involved in different cup competitions.
Liverpool beat Arsenal 4-0 when they faced off at Anfield in August
“He’s obviously still very ambitious and as long as you feel that, and you feel the club gets the benefit of this, you can stay.
“If you are the only part who likes it, that’s wrong. It needs to be a perfect fit.
“We feel that here, at this moment and I’m sure for the next few years, but you cannot force anything to happen.”
Liverpool were 4-0 winners over Arsenal when they met at Anfield on August 27 but Klopp is expecting a much tighter contest on Friday.
“Arsenal are not parking the bus,” he said. “They are not a long-ball playing team. They are complex.
“It’s a real job to do. You close one gap and, wow, another one opens. We have to be ready for this.
“It will be exciting and I would buy a ticket if I was not there already.”