Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp dismisses Manchester United ambition

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has laughed off suggestions it was his dream to take charge of Manchester United.

The two arch-rivals go head-to-head at Anfield on Saturday and Klopp’s former boss at Mainz Eckhard Krautzun this week claimed when he played under him the German’s ambition had been to move to Old Trafford.

However, Klopp dismissed the idea that had things turned out differently he would be in the opposition dug-out on Saturday.

“I heard about an interview with my former manager,” he said. “I really like Eckhard Krautzun but when I think too far in the past I am not 100 per cent sure what is right or wrong but it is still funny. I am sure he thinks it was like this.

“How could I, as a very average player at Mainz, say to my manager, ‘By the way, if I become a manager I would love to manage Manchester United’.

“Maybe people think I am a little bit crazy but I am not that crazy. I never thought about something like this.”

He added: “He (Eckhard) was a big admirer, and is still, of Sir Alex Ferguson. In our first meeting he was wearing a jumper of Manchester United when he came in as a new coach. Maybe he forgot.

“There are a few funny stories, unfortunately a few things are not exact but still funny.

“I had fun when I read it but not all of it is exactly like this.”

A disappointing September, which saw Liverpool win just once and exit the Carabao Cup, increased the scrutiny on Klopp. There is no pressure coming from owners Fenway Sports Group, however, and the manager – who celebrated his two-year anniversary last weekend – defiantly insisted there was no-one better qualified to do the job any way.

“Is it a difficult job? Yes. Are we where we could be? Not sure. Did we do really well last year? Yes. Did we do better this year? Yes, but we didn’t get the results so far,” he added.

“Does that mean I should stop? No. We had to improve to be in the situation we are in now. There is not the biggest difference to the top teams at the moment even when it looks a little bit different with the points.

“Unfortunately, if they (FSG) sacked me now, there would not be a lot of managers who would do the job better than I do.

“I don’t think I am perfect, but it is quite difficult to find better options on this. I still think as long as 98 per cent of all Liverpudlians are behind us, then we are on the right way and we will succeed.”