Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp reveals what subject can’t be discussed behind-the-scenes at Anfield
Michael Edwards hasn’t tried to convince Jurgen Klopp to change his mind about leaving Liverpool at the end of the season.
Klopp, 56, will call time on his legendary Liverpool career this summer with his replacement at Anfield yet to be decided by Fenway Sports Group.
It was confirmed on Tuesday (12 March) that Edwards has returned to Anfield as FSG’s new chief executive of football, who’ll oversee Liverpool’s upcoming transition period.
Edwards’ return sparked speculation that his first conversation with Klopp was to convince him to renege on his decision to quit the Reds this summer.
However, in his press conference on Wednesday (13 March, the German shot down those claims.
When asked if Edwards has tried to convince him to stay on, Klopp was quoted by Liverpool’s official website as saying: “No, because – and it is very important in the job – he is not dumb. It’s not a subject to talk about, to be honest. Can you imagine I changed my mind now? Can you? Of course not.
“I cannot say what I said… It would be like, ‘Never, ever for another club in England’ and then [I] signed for next year for a neighbour or whatever, or whoever needs a coach. That would be completely crazy. I don’t say these things without thinking before. It would mean I started only now realising how great this club is.
“I know it all the time. It is, for me, the best club in the world and I leave it anyway – that’s why I tried to explain. I just want the club to do as good as somehow possible. I am really sure we created a basis with the right people in charge, and Michael is a top choice.”
Who will replace Jurgen Klopp as the next Liverpool manager?
Klopp will leave huge boots to fill at Anfield once his time at the club is up.
As seen at Manchester United when Sir Alex Ferguson and when Arsene Wenger left Arsenal, it’s not an easy take to replace legendary managers who’ve been in place for a long time.
However, Edwards’ appointment means that a large part of the decision-making process is a safe and proven set of hands.
Xabi Alonso seems to be the stand-out pick at the moment.
He’s currently overseeing an incredible season at Bayer Leverkusen, who are top of the German Bundesliga – 10 points clear of second-placed Bayern Munich.
The ex-Liverpool midfielder is the “hot favourite” to succeed Klopp at this stage [Daily Mail] but Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi, Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim and Tottenham’s Ange Postecoglou have also been linked with the upcoming vacancy on Merseyside [iNews].
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