“No-one has to worry about anything.”
Jurgen Klopp looked understandably drained at Old Trafford, on Sunday, after witnessing his side give up the lead on two occasions before being knocked out of the FA Cup.
Liverpool had rallied from 1-0 down to lead 2-1 at half-time only to concede an equaliser to Antony in the 81st minute. Before the Brazilian found the corner of the net, Liverpool had dominated the second half without finding that killer goal. Klopp’s side took the lead, again, in extra time only to concede goals to Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo, losing 4-3.
Following the game, which saw United reach the semi finals, Klopp was involved in a testy exchange with a Norwegian reporter – accusing him of asking ‘a dumb question’ and eventually storming off. During a press conference with beat reporters, the German offered up a little more to some probing questions.
One reporter asked, “Jurgen, with a game like that – the emotion, the intensity, the draining nature of it – is that is that why you’re leaving [Liverpool at the end of the season]? Or is that what drags you in and is part of the addiction of being a manager?”
“Yeah, I really don’t know,” Klopp replied. “No, nothing to do with that. If you see me watching football for a team I like, [I’m] quite emotional as well. You can have that as well without being in the dug-out.
“I didn’t think about that [when I made my decision]. It’s other things. Really we can talk about my situation as often as you want, I just cannot change my answers to be honest. No, nothing to do with that.”
Jurgen Klopp on being swept up in emotions of football
The question about whether these tense, gripping football moments having a draining effect on a person was a valid one. In fairness to Jurgen Klopp, he gave the question full respect and consideration.
“Look, when you are winning, it (the touchline) is a great place to watch a game. When you are losing, it’s pretty much the worst. You stand there. So, hat’s how it is, it’s all fine, I had it all often enough.
“I don’t know how many games I’ve had now as a manager, but I’ve had this quite a few times. It’s all fine. Nothing to do with that.
“Not if we win a game, I want to stay as manager. We lose a game, I don’t want to stay manager. If the atmosphere is great, I want to be a manager. If the atmosphere is not good, I want to leave.
“It is a general decision about something, which has nothing to do with these little moments, or whatever. I’m really sorry if I cannot explain it properly enough. Maybe I have to say it in German and you can all translate it. I’m not sure if that will be better, by the way, the translation!
“No-one has to worry about anything. It’s nothing. I don’t have to say, ‘Oh my god, that’s so great. I love absolutely everything about the things I do’. But I need to be on my top game to do it like I do it. If I feel like I’m not there, then I’m not right… then I’m not the manager that I have to be anymore. That’s how it is.
“You’re not only a little bit worse, you’re immediately properly worse and you are in the wrong place. That’s… if you can see that early, you make a decision early. And that’s what I did.”
Up next for Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool – after the international break – are home games in the Premier League against Brighton and Sheffield United.
Liverpool then return to Old Trafford for a big league encounter on April 7.
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