In an unprecedented event, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has leapt into the defense of his Manchester United counterpart Erik ten Hag. The Dutchman has had a rough start to his debut campaign with the Red Devils, losing first two games of the Premier League against Brighton and Brentford. Furthermore, their transfer business too has not gone as per the plan, with top priority targets refusing to join them.
However, Jurgen Klopp feels Ten Hag’s start to the life in England has not been kind, as compared to his with Liverpool. The German has opined that he had a smooth start with the Reds after leaving Borussia Dortmund to take over the job at Anfield back in 2015. While Klopp too had some difficulties, it is quite evident that Ten Hag is more troubled.
It’s not easy to ‘rebuild’: Jurgen Klopp on harsh criticism aimed at Ten Hag
Erik ten Hag has been rested with the responsibility of reviving United’s lost legacy as the club has had a massive downfall since Sir Alex Ferguson left. They are yet to win a trophy since 2017 and have given Ten Hag total control at the club in order to get back to glory days. However, the former Ajax manager hasn’t been provided with the resources he was promised to stage a squad overhaul.
Moreover, his star man Cristiano Ronaldo has decided to quit Old Trafford despite bagging 24 goals in 38 games last season. The Portuguese wants Champions League football as Ten Hag will be starting his European journey with United from the Europa League.
And after two losses in two games, the English media came down heavily on Ten Hag criticising his lack of a plan and motivation. But Klopp has shed light on his start to life in the Premier League as compared to his fellow counterpart. He said: “I think for me it was easier [to start in the Premier League] because I didn’t come for the start of the season, we didn’t have a transfer window.”
“In England people tend to say then, ‘Yeah, it’s not his team.’ So whatever I did, you would have said, ‘It’s not his team. I actually thought after one day it’s my team, so I felt really responsible for all the performances from the first game. But it’s easier.”
“And now, I don’t think you can really compare it, different times. My arrival is probably seven years ago – it’s a long time in football, a lot of things changed since then. But it’s not easy, definitely not, especially when you have to ‘rebuild’, or however they see it, but change a lot of things [in a] team. That’s not easy.”
Jurgen Klopp further went onto to add that it will take time for Ten Hag to establish his high-pressing style at Old Trafford. He explained the difficulties he faced while implying his brand of football, the ‘Gegenpressing’ at Anfield in 2015.
“It’s obvious what he wants to do, he wants to build up from the back. We played them in the pre-season obviously. There, you could see and feel the high-press idea and these kind of things. We were, for sure, not ready for that game in the pre-season. We made some mistakes but they used them really well.
The individual quality of United up front is ridiculous. I heard (Anthony) Martial can play probably: he played against us obviously a really good game, so another boy with technique and speed. [They have] football quality in midfield, whoever lines up he will have [Christian] Eriksen, [Bruno] Fernandes, Donny van de Beek, Fred and [Scott] McTominay.
There’s real quality there and then it’s just about how we deal with that. I saw their two games and now we have to try to figure out if he (Ten Hag) will change and what he will change. We go from there. If we have no idea then we just have to learn it in the game.”
While Klopp may have his point here, only time will tell how Erik ten Hag fares at Man United. He has welcomed only three new faces so far, and addition of Casemiro from Real Madrid has had mixed reactions from the fans as well as the pundits.