Three years ago, when Sir Alex Ferguson was on the verge of leaving the club where he created history, Manchester United were in search of a successor who would continue the Scot’s legacy at the club.
It is now understood that the Jurgen Klopp, the Liverpool was on United’s wish list to replace Ferguson at the Old Trafford. But the German manager has now expressed no regrets over passing the offer from the Manchester franchise as he sits in the Liverpool dug out ahead of the clash between the two rivals.
Klopp explained that he informed Ferguson that he wants to be loyal to Dortmund and then penned a new 3 year deal with the German club. Three years on, Jurgen Klopp will face Manchester United for the first time from an Anfield dugout.
Asked about his discussion with Ferguson, Klopp said: “Yeah, we spoke. It was a big honour, the whole talk, to be honest.
“There was a time but I could not leave Dortmund. That is it. You are in April and you are in the middle of the planning for next season.
“You have this player and this player and this player who is coming but then you are not there anymore. That doesn’t work. Not in my life.
“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.”
Ferguson expressed his admiration towards the present Liverpool manager. He recently admitted being ‘worried’ about what the Mersyside club can achieve with Klopp at it helm.
Klopp also spoke about his opposite number Louis van Gaal who is under tremendous pressure at Old Trafford. It is widely tipped off that a loss at Anfield might end his career but the German empathized with the Dutchman in the press conference.
He said, “It has an affect on your whole life but, in my case, not on how I handle my team or anything like this,” he said.
“It is always the case if things don’t run the way you want – you have to think about whether to change things or not to change.
“I know the whole world is watching football managers and thinking they are really well paid so no-one cares about a manager’s feelings.
“I know Louis is not too happy with the media at the moment but I think in life it is important sometimes to switch and think about how it would be on the other side.
“Okay, fine, you would have all this money but also all this pressure so it is not nice. If you want to change things in football it is not okay that you think ‘bad, bad, bad, go’. If that was the solution I think Man United would have done it.
It is not our problem, but it is a manager’s problem. It’s like when I came here. First it’s ‘yeh!’ (thumbs up) then it’s ‘erm’ (thumbs to the side) then it might be ‘ooh’ (thumbs down).
“Then I am alone on the side and we might have the same situation here but you will feel completely different. I will not have changed as a human being but you are not interested in this. I am only interested in what my friends and family think about me. It’s not like the sun is shining every day as a football manager.
Klopp also spoke about the how United’s clash though huge for the supporters is just another game in respect to the league.
Klopp added, “United are a club with big possibilities, big potential. But why should I think much about Man United? I have enough to do here.
“We want to win against them. If they have a problem in this moment, maybe if I know a few of their players, it is easier. But, to be honest, our target is to win. Not to solve their problem.”
The last time Klopp and LVG met was back in 2011 when Klopp’s Dortmund beat Van Gaal’s Bayern 3-1 on their route to clinching the Bundesliga title. This loss also spelt the beginning of the end for Van Gaal’s career in Germany.
“Yes, I remember that game,” Klopp said.
“Lucas Barrios, Nuri Sahin and Mats Hummels scored. We had a good team, we were in a good moment with Dortmund and we scored brilliant goals that day.
“It was always difficult for us to play against Bayern because of their style of play but we had not the worst idea in the world to play against Robben and Ribery.
“We scored really good goals, including one from a set-play. I would like a goal from a set-play here sometime! We won this game and we won the championship but it was long ago.”
With the game no longer a fight for the title, the stakes have been lowered but Klopp felt that the intensity and the zeal to win will not reduce on the field.
“Yes, it is not the biggest in terms of the table. If you went on the table it would be Arsenal v Leicester,” he said.
“But we cannot and should not ignore history. Historically, it is a really big clash and we have to accept that we are protagonists.
“Should I say to the players: ‘oh, come on, it’s only sixth v ninth so stay cool?’ No, it is a big game for us and we want to win. I can’t change where we are in the table.
“I think we are all on the way and we are trying to improve. We are trying to make big steps but we have to respect that sometimes it doesn’t work like that.
“That doesn’t change our target – we want to improve, we want to get better and we want to be higher in the table. And we want three points against a strong squad like Manchester United.
“It is not going to be easy but it is possible. Hopefully we can celebrate after the game.
“I love football because of the intensity of the game and, with this game, the intensity starts before so that’s good.”