Klopp won’t discuss why his assistant has left
ROME — Liverpool coach Juergen Klopp won’t discuss why his assistant of 17 years has left the soccer club until the end of the season for personal reasons.
Speaking ahead of the second leg of the Champions League semifinals at Roma on Wednesday, Klopp said: “We gave a club statement to that and that’s all we say at the moment. Nothing else.”
Assistant coach Zeljko Buvac remains a Liverpool employee and his position will not be affected by his absence.
Liverpool leads the semifinal 5-2 from the first leg at Anfield last week.
Klopp and Buvac played together at Mainz in the early 1990s. They were reunited when Klopp made him his assistant after becoming Mainz coach in 2001 and were also together at Borussia Dortmund from 2008.
Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco didn’t think Buvac’s absence would be an issue.
“I think they’re going to put forth a strong, determined squad. It’s a club that has invested a lot to do well in both the league and the Champions League,” Di Francesco said. “We’re facing a squad that has real history in Europe. I don’t think the absence of a staff member can be a factor.”
Italian federation details talks with Mancini
ROME — The Italian football federation says it is in talks with Roberto Mancini about taking over the Azzurri’s vacant coaching job.
Federation commissioner Roberto Fabbricini tells the ANSA news agency Mancini said he was “open to leaving his job with Zenit St. Petersburg to become head coach of the national team.”
Fabbricini adds that “nothing is decided” but that the two sides agreed to meet again May 13, once the Russian season has ended, “to discuss figures and details.”
Under-21 coach Luigi Di Biagio guided Italy on an interim basis in friendlies last month but the team has not had a full-time coach since November when Gian Piero Ventura was fired after the Azzurri failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in six decades.
Mancini, a former Italy player, has coached Fiorentina, Lazio, Inter Milan, Manchester City and Galatasaray to titles.