'It's not about the money for me': Chelsea target Jurgen Klopp pledges to stay at Borussia Dortmund

Roman Abramovich's search for a long-term manager goes on

James Legge
Monday 11 February 2013 14:55 GMT
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Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp has ruled himself out of a move to Chelsea, insisting that he will see out the rest of his contract at the German champions.

The 45-year-old is coveted by Blues owner Roman Abramovich, after the Russian's first choice Pep Guardiola signed up to join Klopp's league rivals Bayern Munich, at the end of the season.

Klopp's side won the domestic double last season, and have won admirers with their playing style.

But a 4-1 defeat at home to Hamburger SV on Saturday leaves them 15 points short of Bayern.

Speaking to the Evening Standard, Klopp said: “I have a contract until 2016. I have said 20 times I’ll definitely stay until 2016. Everybody thinks I say it but that if a club like Chelsea or Real Madrid come in for me, I will go. This is something I can’t change but they will see.

“I was the coach at Mainz before Dortmund for seven years. Each year I could have left for a Bundesliga club but I said ‘no, I have a contract, I will stay’. I enjoy what I’m doing here at Dortmund. It’s a great club, a great city, everything is okay.

“It is a really big honour for me, coming from a small village called Bretten in the Black Forest where 1,500 people live, that somebody thinks I can train Chelsea. It’s not a normal story, it’s a special story. But I don't think about it.”

Chelsea sacked Roberto di Matteo in December, and interim coach Rafael Benitez isn't seen as a long-term replacement. The European champions could offer Klopp a very generous contract, but he says this isn't a consideration for him.

"I don’t think that will make me change my mind," he said.

"It’s not about the money for me. I have enough to eat three times a day!"

And Dortmund's board have insisted that no amount of compensation would make them release their man.

The club's sporting director, Michael Zorc, said: “It is not worth Chelsea ringing us. There is no chance at all, at least until 2016.

“Even if they offered compensation the answer would still be no. He’s priceless."

Chelsea gave Porto £13m in 2011 to release Andre Villas-Boas, and have hired seven managers since Klopp joined Dortmund in 2008.

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