Klopp’s rubbish at Wembley
WAGNER: THAT’S WHY I DON’T NEED HIS ADVICE
DAVID WAGNER has steered clear of asking pal Jurgen Klopp for Wembley advice – because the Liverpool boss’ record there is rubbish.
Wagner is bidding to lead his Huddersfield side into the Premier League today with victory over Reading in the Championship play-off final. The Terriers boss used to coach Borussia Dortmund’s reserve team when Klopp was in charge of their senior side – and they remain in contact. But the Kop chief hasn’t had much luck at Wembley, losing the 2013 Champions League Final to Bayern Munich with Dortmund and last year’s League Cup Final to Manchester City with the Reds. “We haven’t spoken about Wembley, because he wasn’t successful there,” laughed Wagner. “We spoke after the semi-final and I know he supports us for the final. “Even I know, as a German, how big Wembley is. It’s probably the most traditional, biggest, greatest stadium where you can be involved as a footballer and a manager. And now we have a competitive football ® match, and this is excitement enough to be ready for this game.”
Wagner has only visited Wembley once before – for an FA disciplinary hearing.
The Huddersfield boss was given a two-match touchline ban in February for a bust-up with Leeds’ then-manager Garry Monk.
He didn’t even make it for Dortmund’s Champions League date with Bayern four years ago, because he had already booked a holiday.
“I booked my holidays four months before the final,” said Wagner.
“Nobody expected at that time that we would be in the final, and I wasn’t able to change my holiday plans. The only time I’ve been to Wembley was when I had my personal hearing.” Victory at Wembley today would be worth a minimum of £170m – and promotion would be a remarkable achievement for a club with one of the smallest budgets in the Championship. Wagner said: “I think we’re 18th or 19th in the budget table. I think the gap between us and let’s say Newcastle is bigger than the gap between Leicester and Chelsea, if you like to compare these two fairy tales. “We are a small dog, we are still a small dog, and this hasn’t changed over the season, but we are ambitious. “Just because you’re a small dog, it doesn’t mean you’re not able to be quick, to be mobile, to create other weapons.”