Jurgen Klopp press conference: Liverpool manager says Jose Mourinho is a 'nice guy' ahead of Chelsea clash
The newly-installed Anfield boss also downplayed the fixture's history
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Jürgen Klopp says under-fire Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is actually a “nice guy” who he really respects and has “good talks” with.
Liverpool’s new manager was handing out the compliments ahead of his team’s trip to Chelsea today, a vital game for Mourinho as he attempts to end his recent bad publicity and Chelsea’s poor run of results.
“When I was in Germany, sometimes we sent short messages [to each other],” explained Klopp. “From my side, I am full of respect for his work. I think if you are not a journalist, or a referee, he can be a nice guy. And I am not one of these, so we have a good talk.”
The Liverpool manager forged a bond with Mourinho, 52, when the pair met four times in the 2012-13 Champions League while in charge of Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid respectively. Dortmund beat and drew with Real in the group stages, before knocking out the Spanish club in the semi-finals with a 4-3 aggregate win. “He is emotional, I am emotional, but we are full of enough respect after the whistle that normal life starts again,” added Klopp.
Mourinho described Liverpool’s decision to swap Brendan Rodgers, who previously coached at Chelsea, with Klopp as replacing “a top [manager] with another top one”, but he decried the glee that accompanied the downfall of Rodgers earlier this season, and has surrounded his own struggles.
“What I would like to understand is why some people can be so excited and happy with the perspective of somebody losing his job,” Mourinho said. “This is the only job where people get excited at that. It is sad. Brendan almost won the Premier League. He was manager of the season. And suddenly, you were really happy and working hard until he was sacked. It’s strange. I don’t belong to this world. I’m too much emotional. I hate people losing jobs.”
Mourinho said he was not concerned about his own position, despite Chelsea’s poor form. “I am not worried about that at all,” he insisted. “I don’t spend one second of my day thinking about it. I’m worried about the results. I’m worried about winning [on Saturday], about qualifying for the next round of the Champions League, about recovering positions in the table, and to go back to where Chelsea normally has to be. I’m not worried about my job.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments