Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp plays down exit rumours
Reds’ poor run of form and a difficult period in their coach’s personal life have led to speculation over his future with the Premier League champions
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Your support makes all the difference.Jurgen Klopp has played down rumours that he could step down as Liverpool coach amid a poor run of form and difficult period in his personal life.
The Premier League champions have lost five of their last seven games across all competitions, with Klopp also having to deal with the death of his mother last week, but the German insists he is not going anywhere.
The Reds fell to a 3-1 defeat by Leicester in the top flight at the weekend, leaving them 13 points behind leaders Manchester City – who have a game in hand – in fourth place. But Liverpool fans showed their support for 53-year-old Klopp by unfurling a “Jurgen Klopp YNWA (You’ll Never Walk Alone)” banner outside Anfield.
READ MORE: Liverpool left in crisis of confidence and identity after Leicester loss
“I am grateful for the support. But fans can think about other things, nobody needs to worry,” Klopp told reporters ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 first leg against RB Leipzig.
“Rumours of me quitting or taking break? Neither [is true]. I don’t need a break. Everyone knows it has been a tough time, but it wasn’t just last three weeks, it was longer than that.
“I’ve worked in football for 30 years, I don’t carry things around. Nobody has to worry. The beard gets more and more grey, I don’t sleep a lot, but I am full of energy.”
Klopp attributed Liverpool’s poor recent form to individual mistakes rather than collective failures and said the team were confident heading into Tuesday’s game, which was moved to Hungary from Leipzig due to Covid-19 travel restrictions between Germany and Britain.
“The mood is okay. We are ready to go... Nobody is happy being fourth in the league and only having 40 points. We have to deal with the situation,” he added.
Klopp said midfielder Naby Keita had returned to training after shaking off an ankle injury but would not travel with the team to Hungary.
Reuters
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