Thomas Tuchel responds to Jurgen Klopp's exit after 'irritated' admission

26 January 2024 , 12:46

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Thomas Tuchel has paid tribute to Jurgen Klopp (Image: Getty Images)

Former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has hailed Jurgen Klopp as “one of the best coaches of all time” after his bombshell Liverpool exit announcement.

The Reds head coach has announced that he will be leaving Anfield at the end of the campaign following a glittering nine-year spell at the club. Since the shock announcement, tributes have been pouring in for Klopp and the job that he has done with Liverpool.

One man who was asked about Klopp’s impending departure was the former Chelsea and current Bayern Munich head coach. Speaking at a press conference, the German said: "I need to process the news first. I can't say anything about it yet.

“Kloppo is one of the best coaches of all time. He's always managed to influence an entire club at all his clubs. It's huge news."

Klopp and Tuchel’s careers have long been intertwined. Both managed German side Mainz - with the latter arriving at the club just a year after Klopp’s departure.

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Tuchel then replaced Klopp at Borussia Dortmund after he decided to leave the Westfalenstadion in June 2015. The pair were regularly reunited in opposing dugouts.

They have faced off on 19 occasions during their respective careers - Klopp winning on 11 occasions, while Tuchel has just three victories. Their most recent meeting came in the FA Cup final in 2022, the Reds running out victorious on penalties.

There have been a number of comparisons between the pair, something that frustrates the current Bayern Munich boss. A previous colleague of the pair, Axel Schuster, previously revealed to GOAL : "It [comparisons] didn't annoy him [Tuchel], it irritated him - for two reasons.

Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel have faced off on many occasions (Getty Images)

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“Firstly, because he was often portrayed in public as a Klopp pupil. That's not true at all, the two were never at Mainz at the same time. Secondly, because comparisons were usually only made in the area in which Klopp has his absolute strengths: closeness to the people. Kloppo makes people feel very close to him, even when they aren't.

“Tuchel, on the other hand, exhausts himself in his original work as a coach in such a way that apart from that he only has energy for his family. He then no longer has the energy to present himself as close to the people. On the other hand, no comparisons were made where Tuchel performed better than Klopp: hard facts such as points or table positions."

Klopp’s original Liverpool contract was set to run until the summer of 2026 having signed a new deal in April 2022. Xabi Alonso has already emerged as a contender to replace him at Anfield.

Daniel Orme