AJAX EYE A SHOT AT POTT
I know all about Sir Alex and the ‘perch’ quote. It never hindered me... it wasn’t even in my mind
FORMER Chelsea and Brighton boss Graham Potter has joined Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders and Manchester United’s Erik ten Hag on Ajax’s managerial wish-list.
New Ajax chief executive Alex Kroes was surprised to be informed that Potter would consider moving to Holland to resurrect his career following his sacking at Stamford Bridge almost a year ago.
The 48-year-old has some support at the Amsterdam club after the job he did at the Amex Stadium – and Kroes was being urged in some quarters to follow an English model even before Ajax suffered a 4-0 Europa Conference League defeat at Aston Villa in midweek.
Sunday Mirror Sport revealed last week that Ajax are monitoring Lijnders and former coach Ten Hag.
Lijnders is leaving Anfield when Jurgen Klopp departs in the summer, while Ten Hag is fighting for his future at Old Trafford.
Ironically, Potter is being touted as a possible successor to the Dutchman at United.
Kroes has been tasked with reviving Ajax after a miserable season which saw them slump to the bottom of the Eredivisie table for the first time in their history.
JURGEN KLOPP insists he was never obsessed with knocking Manchester United off their perch.
Klopp is chasing an unprecedented Quadruple in his last season as Liverpool boss – and heads to Old Trafford for an FA Cup quarter-final showdown with the Carabao Cup already won and his team top of the Premier League and through to the last eight of the Europa League.
And if Liverpool prevail, it means Klopp is guaranteed to leave Anfield with Liverpool once again established as the nation’s most decorated club.
The Merseysiders have lifted 71 trophies to United’s 69.
And while Klopp knows how Sir Alex Ferguson’s infatuation with Liverpool’s success fuelled
United’s most glorious years, the Reds’ manager feels he’s had bigger challenges to focus on during his eight years in England.
Klopp said: “I know the famous phrase about the perch, but I had other stuff to do when I arrived here rather than think about Manchester United, to be honest.
“In my first year, Leicester won the league. In my second year, Chelsea won the league. Then Man
City started winning the league. But there was nothing with Manchester United. That is not me. I don’t think about anybody else.
“If we face them, then yes. If we don’t face them, they can do what they want and I have nothing to do with that influence.
“I was made aware that Liverpool have now won most trophies because I was told about it – but then I forgot it!
“It’s important, absolutely. But as long as we can still win something, I don’t count trophies.”
Ferguson famously made it his ambition to overhaul Liverpool when he arrived at Old Trafford in 1986 – and did just that when it came to winning the title.
But Liverpool will draw level with United on 20 championships if they clinch the Premier League this season.
And Klopp has also led Liverpool to a sixth Champions League during his reign – three more than United. Klopp said: “When I first came in here, we
played
Tottenham that weekend – and that was enough to think about.
“I’m not that smart that I can think about many different things.
“I think we lost our first game against United. Was it a goal by Wayne Rooney? I thought we were better but they won the game. I do remember that.
“But, for me, I can’t start the development [of a club] by thinking who is up there who I want to reach.
“I can only do it step by step – and they were probably far away. It didn’t ever hinder me because it wasn’t even in my mind.
“He [Ferguson] came from Scotland, I came from Germany, so it was a different place and different times.”
Liverpool will be roared on by 9,000 fans at a sell-out Old Trafford and Klopp will savour the occasion.
He added: “I always prefer home games but if we play away I have always preferred to do it in the FA Cup because you can take more people.
“The away crowd is a real crowd. Our fans will be on their toes and that’s important because we know Old Trafford can create quite a special atmosphere.
“In general it [Old Trafford] is a good place to go. It’s real football. It’s all or nothing because it’s the Cup and it will be decided that day.
“I am happy that we aren’t going there with people saying ‘they have no chance’.
“We have a chance – but we must be
really good.”
For me there was nothing with Manchester United. That’s not me. I don’t think about anyone else