"People think they might be back and they sack the manager" – Ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp aims dig at Chelsea owners
Ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has aimed a dig at Chelsea owners' decision to part ways with former boss Mauricio Pochettino.
The Blues, who finished 12th in the 2022-23 Premier League table, achieved a sixth-placed finish with 63 points from 38 league games and reached the EFL Cup final this season. However, the club's hierarchy decided to let go of the Argentine earlier this month.
Speaking at the Evening with Jurgen Klopp event at the M&S Bank Arena, Klopp made a remark about Chelsea's owners while hailing the Fenway Sports Group (FSG). He said (h/t OneFootball):
"We should be really happy that we have these owners and not guys who bought London clubs and other stuff. I wouldn't have survived a year at Liverpool [with them in charge]. 'Great development but not good enough, sack him!' A year later: 'Sack him'."
Slamming Chelsea's impatience with their managers, Klopp continued:
"Then finally, they play football where people think they might be back and they sack the manager anyway. People always think the grass is greener but we have owners who really feel responsible for the club and work really hard as well as being successful. I felt supported. We did it as good as we could have done and I'm fine with it."
The Blues are allegedly close to naming Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca as their sixth manager since a Todd Boehly-led consortium's takeover in May 2022. They were previously linked with the likes of Roberto De Zerbi, Kieran McKenna, and Thomas Frank.
Liverpool, on the other hand, appointed ex-Feyenoord boss Arne Slot as their new head coach earlier this month. Slot has penned a three-year deal at the Reds and will start his tenure this Saturday (June 1).
Liverpool in race to sign Chelsea target
According to The Sun, Liverpool and Chelsea are currently leading the race to sign Leeds United star Crysencio Summerville this summer. West Ham United, Fulham, and Bournemouth are also interested in the player, but all three clubs stand little chance of signing him.
Meanwhile, Leeds are willing to offload Summerville, who is valued between £35 million and £40 million, after failing to gain promotion to the Premier League. They are in need of cash to balance their books.
Summerville, 22, relished a breakout season for Leeds in the 2023-24 campaign. The Dutchman scored 21 goals and provided 10 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions for Daniel Farke's outfit.