The darn seventh year. Jürgen Klopp finished after seven years at FSV Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund, and things are not going well at Liverpool FC either, in his seventh season under the 55-year-old’s leadership. Most recently, the Reds lost 3-1 at Brentford FC, resulting in eighth place in the table.
“The approach with seven years of Mainz and Dortmund and now seven years of Liverpool is obvious”Klopp admits in an interview with ‘Sport Bild’, but adds: “But if I had noticed that things were going in the wrong direction here after seven years because of me, I would have been the first to leave.”
He is not afraid for his job: “I was aware that it is currently a transitional period. That’s why the club and I agree that I’ll stay behind the wheel and that we’ll look at the whole thing in the medium to long term.” This means that the Liverpool team will rebuild the squad under the guidance of the native of Stuttgart.
“A Great Player”
Possibly with Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund, who has been hotly traded in Liverpool for some time. “Jude is a great player who we know of course. We would be stupid if we didn’t have him on the screen. But there is nothing more to say about it at the moment.”so Klopp about the BVB star.
He rejects reports of an alleged meeting with the 19-year-old: “These things don’t work at all because he’s under contract with Borussia Dortmund and that doesn’t work without consent. So it’s not true.”
Speaking of the contract, Klopp is still tied to Liverpool until 2026. And while he’s firmly in the saddle at Anfield, his time there will eventually come to an end. When the time comes, quite a few would wish for the 55-year-old to be the new national coach. Even in the course of the German World Cup a month ago, the name Klopp kept coming up in discussions about a possible legacy from Hansi Flick.
Future national coach?
The ‘Sport Bild’ spoke to him about the subject. “It’s a strange situation, which is nice on the one hand and very difficult on the other. I don’t want to give the impression that this is the last job I want to do. There are worse things than being named as a possible national coach.”according to Klopp.
And further: “In any case, it’s better than saying: Everyone can do it, but definitely not him. But I’m an extremely responsible person. And I’m responsible in Liverpool and I can’t just say because I feel like it: I’m gone now. I can’t do that.”
However, he does not want to rule out an engagement as national coach: “It just never worked out in terms of time. I’ve said it before: it’s not entirely out of the question that I’ll become national coach at some point. But it has to fit. And so far it hasn’t.” In addition, he would like to take a sabbatical after his time in Liverpool, as he once again confirmed to ‘Sport Bild’. And then? “We’ll see.”
