Jurgen Klopp claims he is still Liverpool’s manager “because of the past”

Jurgen Klopp has stated that he is still the manager of Liverpool “because of the past” rather than his team’s present form. 

Brendan Rodgers and Graham Potter were fired on Sunday, indicating a record of 12 Premier League coaches have been booted out this campaign. 

The Merseyside club are in a dire state and they face the possibility of their worst league finish under the German tactician. 

Jurgen Klopp would lead his Liverpool side to play Chelsea on Tuesday although his job is yet to face thorough evaluation. 

The German said: “If it was my first season it would be slightly different

“I’m aware of the fact that I’m sitting here because of the past, not because of what we did this season.”

The 55-year-old has assisted Liverpool to win major titles in football throughout his seven and a half year at the English club. 

Klopp is currently the longest-serving coach in the English Premier League as he arrived at the Merseyside club in the 2015/16 campaign after the ouster of Brendan Rodgers. 

Liverpool have picked no point from their last three games across all competitions and they are languishing in 8th position in the Premier League table. 

This was the position the club finished in at the end of the 2015/16 season, the campaign Jurgen Klopp became manager of the side.

Jurgen Klopp on Liverpool owners

Klopp added: “We have smart owners, they know about the situation.

“There is no need for me to be afraid, I am here to deliver, I’m not here as a talisman or for murals on house walls.

“I know I’m still here because of what happened in the last few years.

“I don’t like the fact that I pretty much have to rely on that. Is it right or not? We’ll see in the future.”

Liverpool battled Manchester City for the Premier League crown in three of the last four campaigns, lifting the team’s first league trophy in 30 years in 2019/20.

But, they are 30 points below current table toppers Arsenal following Saturday’s 4-1 humbling loss at Manchester City. 

The Reds have got 11 games still to play this season and they are eight points behind UEFA Champions League qualification spots. 

The German tactician asserted: “I’m fully in, there’s no doubt about that, but we have to sort it. We cannot continue playing like we do from time to time. That’s not allowed.

“I’m really disappointed about us, that we do these kind of things, but it happened. Now we have to find a way out and that’s what we’re constantly working on.”

Ahead of his team’s meeting with Chelsea on Tuesday, Klopp speaking in a presser set to preview the encounter joked that he was the top-flight league in England “last man standing”. 

"Last man standing…12 now? That's an awful number!"

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp reacts to Graham Potter, Antonio Conte and Brendan Rodgers departures…⬇️ pic.twitter.com/KodtvBeYZo

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) April 3, 2023

Jurgen Klopp said: “I think probably the elephant in the room, from your point of view, is why I am still sitting here, in this crazy world.”

Italian Antonio Conte was fired by Tottenham Hotspur, Scotsman Brendan Rodgers and Graham Potter who hails from England were all sent parking in the timeframe of just a week. 

The Liverpool manager buttressed further:

“It’s a strange week, The season gets into a decisive part and people are afraid of maybe not reaching their targets.

“But I would say for all four their football managing future is still bright so it’s not a disaster. It’s a situation they probably don’t like but it’s part of the business.”

The German insinuated that 12 Premier League managers being dismissed this campaign was “an awful number, but it is how it is”.

Klopp further emphasized that: “Some clubs are underachieving this year. We are, other clubs are too.

“There are expectations out there, rightly so, and if you don’t reach them then you have to accept the decisions.”