Jurgen Klopp fires parting shots at Chelsea, Man City and Man United at Liverpool farewell event
Jurgen Klopp had his chains taken off as he mocked Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United on Tuesday night.
The former Liverpool manager spoke to 11,000 fans who attended a question and answer session at the M&S Bank Arena, nine days after his Anfield's reign ended.
But before saying goodbye for the final time, the German made a series of light-hearted jokes at the expense of Liverpool's Premier League rivals.
Just like his acquaintance I don't like the start at 12:30Klopp listed a list of topics he was allegedly told not to mention.
He said: “TNT (Sport) – no discussion at 12:30, referees, we don't talk about Man City – I don't know why, we don't talk about financial things – I don't know why, VAR.”
The conversation then turned to City and their 115 charges for allegedly violating the Premier League's financial rules.
Pep Guardiola recently guided City to a historic fourth consecutive title and Klopp's Liverpool had been their most consistent rival.
Asked if City would be stripped of the titles they won during that period, Klopp joked: “If you organize a bus parade, I'm in. How long it takes, I don't care how long.”
Klopp then took aim at Chelsea owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, who made headlines following the departure of Mauricio Pochettinowith another one new manager on the horizon.
“We should be very happy to have them (Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group) and not guys who bought London clubs,” Klopp said. “I wouldn't have survived a year at Liverpool (with them).
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“Finally they (Chelsea) play football and everyone thinks, 'Oh, they could come back' and then they sack the manager anyway.
“The owners feel responsible for the club. Are they the best in the world? I don't know, I can't say. But they worked very hard. I felt supported.”
Of course, Klopp wasn't going to let his arch-rivals Man United off the hook.
This time, he seemed to give his opinion on the Red Devils loanee. Jadon Sancho.
The winger was excluded from first team training after a public fight with Erik ten Hag and loaned to Klopp's former club Borussia Dortmund.
“If the whole world loses trust and faith in the player, the coach has to be the one behind the player,” Klopp said, referring to Ten Hag.
“I can't just believe 'he's useless', like other clubs did, by the way: buy a player for £80m and then send him out on loan.”
Klopp confirmed that he would be leaving anfield at the end of the 2023/24 season in January.
Former Feyenoord boss Arne Slot will now take the reins at Liverpool as the Reds begin their post-Klopp life.
