Jurgen Klopp snubbed a Premier League rival of Liverpool for not understanding football before he agreed Anfield move
German boss did not mention any of his current Kop stars when asked to name the best player he has worked with
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JURGEN KLOPP snubbed a Premier League rival of Liverpool’s for failing to understand football.
The German was linked with Manchester City and Chelsea while at Borussia Dortmund but chose Anfield as his next project.
Chelsea and City have spent hundreds of millions of pounds stockpiling players, with very little homegrown talent making the senior sides.
And Klopp – while not revealing the name of the club he rejected in 2015 – has revealed it was Liverpool that met his special criteria.
At a charity dinner in South Africa, when asked how his Premier League career came about, he said: “Why Liverpool? I had an offer of another historical English club two years ago, but I never felt comfortable with how they understood football.
"It didn’t feel right.
“When Liverpool called, I can’t explain it. It was right.
“We have to improve, 100 per cent. But we will.
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“We are fine and the owners are happy.
“Liverpool is a fantastic club, and my aim is to win the Premier League with it.”
Despite Klopp insisting he will lift the title with his current side, it is two of his former Dortmund players who he rates highest.
When asked about the best talents he has worked with, Philippe Coutinho, Sadio Mane, Daniel Sturridge and Jordan Henderson failed to get a mention.
Instead, Dortmund ace Mario Gotze won the accolade with Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowksi the player he has seen improve the most.
Klopp said: “Best player I’ve ever coached? Mario Gotze. He was unbelievable.
“The biggest improvement, though, was Lewandowski.”
