Jurgen Klopp has urged English football fans to sack incoming manager Arne Slot and give him time to work his magic at Anfield, but the outgoing German believes he leaves Liverpool extremely healthy for his successor.
Klopp has dubbed this current version of his Reds team ‘Liverpool 2.0’ and the 56-year-old says that even if he leaves, the new manager can continue to make positive steps with the young team that won the Carabao Cup in February.
“Liverpool 2.0 doesn’t end with me,” said Klopp, who now only has three games left at the club. “It’s just the new Liverpool. It’s just the beginning, they (the new technical team) can take the next steps.
“We’re all here like, ‘Yeah, they could be champions.’ It’s all about perspective. What you’re going to put in them next year. If you say, ‘Okay, last year (this season) you came in third, now you have to be champions.’ ”.
‘We had the time when we started. Do they have to wait four or five years? But if you give them time again, there is a chance. We will see that. Who wins that battle, the patients or those who waited long enough. I’m sure there is a really bright future.’
Jurgen Klopp asked fans for patience before the debut of his successor Arne Slot
The Feyenoord manager (left) is believed to be close to confirming his move to Anfield.
Klopp says his phone is always on if Slot, who has agreed a verbal agreement to join the Merseyside club, wants to speak to him or ask for advice, but he is unlikely to make an official transfer.
“It’s not my decision,” added the German. “I’m not in a position to give advice. When new people arrive, if they want to know something, they can call me: everyone has my number. We can talk about absolutely everything, I love talking about everything in this club.
‘(They inherit a) fantastic team. It was like, we could do this, we could do that, we need that. Thank God it’s not my job anymore. That’s exactly what I don’t want to do anymore. The people who (enter) this club will be quite calm.
‘Everyone will look at the information about the squad we have during the season. The age group is great, what comes from the academy, positions, can it be improved from outside? I don’t know if the money is there or not. You can always (improve), but the base is absolutely great.
‘Look at the age of the midfield, really excellent. Stefan Bajcetic is back, really great. Some will be here, others on loan, others sold. That’s all part of the matter. The foundation we created is really good. “We tried to win the league but it didn’t work, but we also have to look at it in the long term.”