Jurgen Klopp: Man United Legend Sir Alex Ferguson Is The John Lennon Of Football

JURGEN KLOPP says he believes Sir Alex Ferguson is the greatest manager ever as he described the former Manchester United boss as the “John Lennon of football”.

The Liverpool boss was asked about Ferguson’s concern that he will make United’s fiercest rivals a force again in the Premier League.

SPEAKING OUT: Jurgen Klopp

And he revealed how inspiring it was to meet one of the Reds’ bitterest foes when he was Borussia Dortmund manager ahead of Liverpool’s clash with United at Anfield on Sunday, which the German also described as “the salt in the soup”.He said: “I had a few really good moments with Sir Alex. In comparison to him I’m a young manager.

“It’s a big honour to talk to Sir Alex. For a manager it’s nearly the best thing you can do, to sit there and listen.

“OK, I needed ten minutes to understand and then it was OK.

“Maybe he is the greatest ever – the John Lennon of football or something like this.

“From my side there is a big amount of respect. What he did in his life as a manager is not easy for someone else to do it.

“What he said about me? I don’t know. I think it was positive because we had a good time together.

LEGEND: Sir Alex Ferguson

“That is good that he is concerned. I have to prove it. We need a little time. We’re a bit closer but that’s not only our job, Man United came from the other direction too.”

Klopp goes up against a very different United side than the one Ferguson led to so many Premier League titles.

United fans are not happy with current boss Louis van Gaal and have labelled his style of football boring.

German Klopp has had Liverpool fans thrilled so far and he believes it is important to entertain.

He said: “First of all I am a football fan and as a fan if I watch football I to be entertained. It is not always possible, sometimes I have to find other reasons to watch football.

“It’s one of most important things because you’re only here because you’re interested in it, you’re interested because it’s a perfect game in my opinion.

“You can celebrate big wins together, go through defeats together and that is what football is.

“Between these things you want to play football people want to talk about.”

The former Dortmund boss is looking forward to his first game against United as Liverpool boss.

He added: “A game against Man united is a bit like Dortmund v Schalke. You can play a whole season how you want but in these games you have to be prepared, at your best for these games.

“It is important for the table, we are close together, bboth need the points to stay close to top of table.

“I love derbies to be honest. It’s the salt in the soup. They are the best matches to perform.”