Jurgen Klopp discusses Liverpool U-turn

Stuart Telford

• 3 Mar 2024 11:31 GMT
• 3 min read

Jurgen Klopp has responded to claims that he could reverse his decision to leave Liverpool at the end of the season.

Klopp announced in January that he would be bringing the curtain down on nine glittering seasons at Anfield come the end of the campaign.

Xabi Alonso has quickly emerged as the favourite to replace him having led Bayer Leverkusen to the cusp of their maiden Bundesliga title, currently seven points clear of Bayern Munich with a game in hand.

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But reports have emerged recently that Klopp could change his mind, having overseen the emergence of the next generation of Reds stars.

Academy graduates like Jarell Quansah, Conor Bradley and Bobby Clark have all seen Premier League minutes this season, and seven players still eligible for U21 football played a part as they won the EFL Cup last Sunday.

Klopp's cadets

It was put to Klopp that the youngsters might be reason enough to stay, but not even that will sway him.

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"It has nothing to do with them." he said. "If it would be about the people around me, I love my 'more senior' players as well.

"I will miss them as well. Seeing the young boys coming through, it just gives me a very good feeling for the future of the club, which is much more important than anything. I will miss them and I will follow them.

"It's not about not wanting, it's about what is right. That's why I do it. Not because I don't like some players and want to leave because of that. Or now there are young players and I like them more and I should stay, it's not like that either, definitely not."

Klopp is understood to want a sabbatical after his Liverpool tenure, but he could be tempted with the Germany job - a different pace to club football - sooner, should they struggler under Julian Nagelsmann at the Euros on home turf this summer.