JURGEN KLOPP HAS suggested he had the opportunity to replace Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2013 but could not seriously consider any offer as he had unfinished business at former club Borussia Dortmund.
Klopp will take charge of Liverpool against United for the first time since arriving at Anfield in October on Sunday, having ended a seven-year association with Dortmund at the end of last season.
Ferguson – who retired from management in 2013 – has made no secret of his admiration for the German’s work while at Dortmund, previously expressing his fear that Klopp could make Liverpool better than United over the coming seasons.
And Klopp revealed he had the chance to take over from the United legend in 2013.
“We spoke. We spoke not a lot but, for me, it was a lot. It was a big honour, the whole talk,” he told reporters.
I did not hear about a real offer but, if there was, I could not have done it. I first had to finish the job with Dortmund and then think about other things. Maybe that is not smart but that is my way.
“I could not leave Dortmund. That is it. It wasn’t like it was said ‘come in March or May’. When you are in April you are in the middle of the planning for next season. You have this player and this player and this player who is coming [to sign] but then you are not there anymore.
“That doesn’t work. Not in my life.”
Klopp will go head to head with Louis van Gaal this weekend for the first time since the pair faced off as coaches of Dortmund and Bayern Munich in 2011.
The Dutchman has come in for criticism over United’s style of play and lack of goals this term, with Klopp eager for his side to entertain where possible.
“First of all I am a football fan. If I watch I want to be entertained. It is why you are interested in it,” he added.
“It would not be the same game if people only go to the game and only think about tactics. I like football because of the moments you can enjoy. Not just a perfect goal but a perfect challenge - the atmosphere and everything.”
He is getting good at these mind games
Mind games??, he just admitted Liverpool basically wasn’t his first choice.
How was it his first choice when he didn’t take it. He was fergusons first choice
The article/comments gives the impression(maybe false impression/mis quote etc.) that if things had worked out differently he would be at OT and not anfield, sorry but I think that’s a rather stupid thing to say and I can’t see the point of bringing that up.
There’s reading between the lines and there’s talking absolutely shite Dave. You’re doing the latter here.
Wow that’s rich coming from a thicker F@ucker such as self
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Says it all
Just like Pep then
S
And Utd shunning him lol
Dave you’re one of the more reasonable people on here don’t let people get to you
Dave, the story suggests Fergie wanted him…. He turned it down….. But that was okay, in the end Man Utd found the chosen one, and everything was ok…… Seriously though, anyone replacing Fergie would have failed…. Boots too big….
Good comeback Dave. Still doesn’t change the fact you were talking skutter.
He hasn’t done anything yet!
What should he have done by now?
So he wasn’t offered the job ? They just talked? A non story really.
He’d heard of Andy Tate and thought better
I heard he made the team do two laps of honor after there three all draw with arsenal.
Don’t believe all them Chinese whispers lad
I want LVG replaced but def not with klopp.
Ferguson also spoke to the guy who puts up the nets. The guy who cleans the showers the guy who lol. Total rubbish klopp. If there was such a q for u why were u left sitting in Germany whilst struggling for so long. I personally don’t think he would be big enough for united…
Big enough for United? You’re on your own there, I’d say most United fans your bite your hand off for him, given many would bite your hand off to replace LVG with anyone.
Ha ha! He wasn’t the chosen one so!