Skip to main content

Klopp Reveals How Dortmund Asked Him to Return in 2018



Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has revealed that Borussia Dortmund CEO Joachim Watzke tried to lure him back to Germany in the summer of 2018.

In a new biography about Watzke called ‘Real Love: A life with BVB’, Klopp says of a call he took in May 2018: “At some point my phone rang while I was on the plane and Aki was on it: 'Jurgen, you have to come back'. I laughed, I thought he was kidding.

“'Are you stupid, have you been drinking? How do you get that idea, I have a few more years in Liverpool'.

“I do not know how serious he was at that moment, but I realised that he wanted me to be more willing to respond.”

Watzke admits that he always expected Klopp to knock back his advances, with a coach who would go on to claim Champions League glory with Liverpool in 2018-19 tied to a deal with the Reds through to 2022.

“I knew that Jurgen would say no and that he would fulfil his contract in Liverpool,” Watzke said. “But if you want to go in a new direction, and we had to hit a new path at BVB at that point, then I had to at least ask Jurgen if it was a possibility. I did not expect it at all, but I would never have forgiven myself had I not at least asked him at that moment.”

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Aubameyang Named Premier League Player of the Month

The Gabon international topped the public vote after a stellar September, which he started in style with the equaliser against Tottenham. Aubameyang followed that up with a well-taken brace in the draw with Watford, before netting the winner as we came back to beat Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium. The red-hot forward finished the month as he started it, scoring the equaliser as we drew 1-1 with Manchester United at Old Trafford. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp named Premier League Manager of the Month for September.

La Liga: Levante Fightback to Beat Barcelona

LEV 3 - 1 BAR Goals:  Campaña (61'), Mayoral (63'), Radoja (68')  Messi (38' pen)    La Liga leaders Barcelona conceded three goals in seven second-half minutes as Levante came from behind to defeat Ernesto Valverde's champions. Lionel Messi had put the visitors ahead with a 38th-minute penalty following Jorge Miramon's foul on Nelson Semedo. Jose Campana levelled for Levante after 60 minutes, before Borja Mayoral completed the turnaround two minutes later and Nemanja Radoja added a third. The video assistant referee then denied Messi as his side failed to respond. The Argentine appeared to have scored an excellent solo goal after a determined run, but Antoine Griezmann had strayed offside in the build-up.

Marcelo Reveals Anxiety Attack Before 2018 CL Final

Marcelo has revealed that he suffered from an anxiety attack before playing the 2018 Champions League final against Liverpool. The Brazilian insisted that, despite winning four previous Champions League trophies, the pressure on him and Real Madrid was massive that night. "I couldn't breathe. I was trying not to panic," Marcelo told the Players' Tribune. "This was in the dressing room right before the Champions League final against Liverpool in 2018. "It felt like I had something stuck in my chest. This huge pressure. Do you know that feeling? I am not talking about nerves. Nerves are normal in football. This was something different. "I am telling you, brother, it felt like I was suffocating. "Everything had started the night before the final. I couldn't eat. I couldn't sleep. "I was thinking only of the match. It was funny, actually, because my wife, Clarice , gets so mad at me for biting my nails, and she finally go...