The Liverpool manager, who described Fergie as 'the John Lennon of football' says he was committed to Borussia Dortmund at the time.
The unthinkable happened on Friday, and perhaps it says as much about the faded powers of two of English football’s great clubs. |
| Red all over: Klopp is at Liverpool, but United were interested |
As the two juggernaughts of the domestic game - currently sixth and ninth in the Premier League - prepare to meet tomorrow Anfield chief Jurgen Klopp has revealed why he snubbed Ferguson’s offer to be considered as his successor at United.
And then he went on to describe the man who relished antagonising the Kop as “the John Lennon of football”.
Klopp is relishing his first clash with United tomorrow, and one that could have huge consequences for Louis van Gaal, current occupier of Fergie’s hot-seat.
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| Thanks but no thanks: Klopp turned down Fergie's approach |
“Yeah, we spoke,” said the Liverpool boss. “It was a big honour for me, the whole talk, to be honest.
“But in life timing is always important and that was a time I could not leave Dortmund. That was it.
“It wasn’t like this where you say ‘come in March or May’. 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 coming because you are there, but then you are not there anymore. That doesn’t work. Not in my life.
“I didn’t 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.”
Klopp treasures his meeting with Ferguson, even though he joked it took him 10 minutes to decipher his Glaswegian accent, and hailed him as “the John Lennon of football”.
There is mutual respect between them and Ferguson tipped Klopp for success at Liverpool when he took over, even though he claims it pained him to say it about United’s fiercest rivals.
“It was a big honour to talk to Sir Alex,” he said. “Maybe he is the greatest ever - the John Lennon of football.
“What he did in his life as a manager is not easy for someone else to do. What he said about me? I don’t know. I think it was positive because we had a good time together. That is good that he is interested. Now I have to prove it.”
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Klopp treasures his meeting with Ferguson, even though he joked it took him 10 minutes to decipher his Glaswegian accent, and hailed him as “the John Lennon of football”.
There is mutual respect between them and Ferguson tipped Klopp for success at Liverpool when he took over, even though he claims it pained him to say it about United’s fiercest rivals.
“It was a big honour to talk to Sir Alex,” he said. “Maybe he is the greatest ever - the John Lennon of football.
“What he did in his life as a manager is not easy for someone else to do. What he said about me? I don’t know. I think it was positive because we had a good time together. That is good that he is interested. Now I have to prove it.”
Klopp is perhaps relieved he is not facing Fergie tomorrow and instead he is up against Louis van Gaal for the first time since he beat him as Dortmund boss to push him towards the sack at Bayern Munich in April 2011.
Then Bayern president Uli Hoeness slammed van Gaal’s style, saying there was “nothing enjoyable about football at FC Bayern”, a sentiment no doubt many United fans would echo.
Klopp remembers that 3-1 success five years ago, which helped him win his first Bundesliga title, and says being entertaining is important for him as a coach.
“Lucas Barrios, Nuri Sahin and Mats Hummels scored,” he smiled. “It was a long time ago. We had a good team, we were in a good moment with Dortmund and we scored brilliant goals that day.
“We won that game and we won the championship, but it was a long ago and this is different.
“I am a football fan and as a fan I like to be entertained. That’s not always possible, but it’s one of most important things because then you’re interested.”
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