Sunday People

NO SYMPATHY FOR THE RED DEVIL

Klopp: Football is a sea full of sharks. Deal with it

- By Steve Bates

JURGEN KLOPP is determined to plunge Manchester United into a bigger crisis after admitting he has no sympathy for Erik ten Hag.

The Kop boss heads to Old Trafford tomorrow admitting he is not being heartless towards his Dutch rival, merely reflecting the brutal nature of management at the top, where self-preservati­on and success is all that matters.

United have endured a disastrous start to the new campaign with a home defeat to Brighton and a 4-0 thumping at Brentford in their opening two Premier League games.

That has triggered a backlash that has left Ten Hag and his underperfo­rming stars under an intense spotlight. Klopp has got his own problems with key injuries in midfield and attack.

And two draws against Fulham and Crystal Palace have already left them four points behind reigning champions Manchester City.

Asked if he feels sympathy for Ten Hag after the Dutchman’s car-crash introducti­on to life at United, Klopp said: “No, I don’t. Not if it’s football problems.

“We have problems. I’m not sure if you go to Manchester United and ask them if Ten Hag thinks we have a few injuries too many – it’s not like this.

“The football world is a sea full of sharks. It is not necessary that I feel sympathy.

“It will not help them or harm them [United] that I don’t offer it.

“We all have our own problems and that’s it.”

Stamp

When he arrived at Anfield almost seven years ago, Klopp quickly set about putting his stamp on Liverpool.

It has been a success – but he advised Ten Hag he will only survive if he switches off from the constant noise around United.

“I haven’t a lot of experience, to be honest, since arriving here seven years ago.

“When I came here I don’t think we hit the ground running immediatel­y.

“We played a good game at Tottenham, but drew.

“Simon Mignolet had to make a few big saves, then the Europa League and Bournemout­h I think in the League Cup with Nathaniel Clyne’s only goal he ever scored.

“So it wasn’t, ‘Oh God you can see it immediatel­y’.

“But I can say that I didn’t read anything and that makes it easier because you know that you’re not over the moon about your own results.

“You don’t care exactly what people might say so you don’t have to read it. You don’t have to be fussed by it all or whatever so you focus on work and go for the little steps.

“I am pretty sure that it’s the same for each club.

“I don’t think it’s anything different for bigger clubs.

“Sure, you talk about it for bigger clubs. If you lose then the first five articles in newspapers are about that.

“But if you are strong enough not to read that then you can have an OK life and just work on the important stuff.

“So that’s what I have done for seven years and that helps me. That is the only advice I could give.”

Contrastin­g

Having faced four United managers in his time at Liverpool, Klopp knows Ten Hag’s tactics will present yet another contrastin­g test.

“Of course it depends who is in charge. They all play very differentl­y, by the way.

“[Louis] Van Gaal and [Jose] Mourinho are very different.

“You have to prepare for something very different and we will.”

And on United’s past four managers, he jokingly added: “Imagine the money Liverpool have saved by not paying them all off.

“I should have said that when I signed the last contract!

“That would be an interestin­g number, by the way.”

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