Klopp is ready to buy his way to silverware at Anfield
JURGEN KLOPP refused the chance to buy trophies – literally – when he was in Germany.
But the Liverpool boss won’t hesitate to spend in the summer to push his team to the level he believes Chelsea are already at.
“When I was manager at Dortmund, I was given the opportunity to purchase a replica of the Bundesliga trophy and the German Cup to keep for myself after we won them,” he explains.
“I don’t know how much it cost but it would have been quite expensive because it looks just like the original.
“I didn’t order it because I didn’t need it. I remembered what it’s like to win and I didn’t need reminding.”
Klopp spent £ 68 million on players last summer but more than balanced the books with his sales receipts and declined to add to his squad in January. His team will try to make up some ground on Antonio Conte’s runaway leaders by beating Burnley today but Klopp is already looking to the summer to do significant transfer business.
“The base here is really good but of course we will spend money,” he says.
“We know what we want and we are working really hard. Four players? Yes. Are we close to signing them? I’ve nothing to say about that.
“We didn’t do the transfers last year to have a positive balance.
“We did not sell because we needed the money.
“In each case the player wanted it. Joe
Allen wanted to play more than I could guarantee.
“Christian Benteke at his best is a player who could help us for sure but not without confidence, which was the situation he was in.
“When you look back it seems like the squad wasn’t big enough but at the time Danny Ings and Daniel Sturridge were involved in our plans.
“But Ingsy got an injury early in the season and Daniel has had a few problems.
“So when Philippe Coutinho was also injured and we didn’t have enough options.
“In the winter window we were looking but you can’t just buy any player because you need one.
“No player is better than buying the wrong player, so we didn’t do it.
“But the plan is not only about transfers. It’s about improving the players we have. That’s important too.”
Liverpool have found themselves in a chasing group of five behind Chelsea but the Londoners have been so efficient that even a win today would leave Liverpool 11 points adrift.
“For the football Chelsea are playing, they have the perfect players and the perfect manager,” says Klopp. “It is the perfect fit.
“First they created the momentum, then they used the momentum, then they stayed consistent.
“They are a really well-organised side and in a lot of games Eden Hazard and Diego Costa have made the difference.
“They have an experienced defence and are highly motivated after what happened last year.
“After being champions two seasons ago, last year was kind of a holiday season for them. They weren’t 100% there.
“They know they’ve had luck with injuries and have been able to play the same side for a long time.
“But quality and being organised helps a lot.”
Klopp concedes that trophy-winning record from his Borussia Dortmund days is what attracted Liverpool to him when they were seeking a replacement for Brendan Rodgers 18 months ago and that they are still waiting for him to deliver.
“I am probably here because my teams have won a few things in the past,” he says.
“I’ve been lucky but I want to win lots of things still. Now we work on winning here.”