Jurgen Klopp hits back at ex-Liverpool star and slams theory on unexpected exit

26 January 2024 , 17:39

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Jurgen Klopp has explained his decision to leave Liverpool (Image: Nikki Dyer - LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Jurgen Klopp has responded to claims from former Liverpool defender Jose Enrique that the club's owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) are to blame for his decision to step down as manager.

Klopp will leave Liverpool at the end of the season after spending more than eight years in charge, having admitted he is "running out of energy" to continue. But Enrique claimed in an interview with Sky Sports that Klopp was "tired" of FSG not backing him enough in the transfer market.

"I think it has to do with the spending and the owners," Enrique said. "I think he has got tired of it to keep fighting every single year to sign the players that he deserves in the team. I think he's just got tired of that.

"That's a personal opinion. Obviously he's given his opinion and that's a real one but from my side and seeing it from a former player as well, he's just every year he needs to do miracles to win stuff with these players.

"Obviously they have a great team this year to win stuff but again, this January transfer window, the team needs something and the owners just don't give it. I really believe they need one or two players and he does as well, even if he doesn't say so."

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However, Klopp has rubbished Enrique's claims, insisting FSG had "nothing to do" with his decision to leave Liverpool. "I saw this morning, surprisingly, when it came out that Jose Enrique, who I like a lot and he obviously has a big Liverpool heart, say that whatever I say, it's still about FSG," Klopp told reporters.

"I can tell you, Jose, it's not. Nothing to do with it. It would be so easy in this job to just blame the owners and say 'yeah, we would have won more trophies if FSG would have spent more'. Was I always happy in each second with what we did exactly?

Jose Enrique blamed Liverpool's owners FSG for Klopp's decision to stand down (Getty Images)

"No, but it was absolutely fine. This club is so different because we built two stands which will last forever, it will stay there. If there's not an earthquake, it will stay there so the stadium is wonderful.

"We build this AXA training ground, wonderful, this will stay for the next 30, 40, 50 years. Everything's set. We did what we did properly, that's really important. We did it the Liverpool way, what I loved.

"We didn't win with 97 points, and we didn't win the Champions League final, but that had nothing to do with how one player was not in or we wouldn't spend for another one."

Matthew Cooper