Jurgen Klopp probably couldn’t even hide his feelings if he tried. No other coach in the Premier League gives a better indication of the state of mind from the facial expression. On Saturday, his expression told of special grief. Again he had lost clearly with Liverpool – 0: 3 at relegation candidates Wolverhampton Wanderers. In an interview with the BBC, Klopp murmured so sadly that he had “no real words” that the reporter wanted to cheer him up: Klopp will certainly see “better days” in football again soon.
When Klopp finally found his words, he explained that the league game was “the culmination of our problems”. You can criticize him and his team “as much” as you want, because the first twelve minutes of the game were the “worst in a long time”. Klopp had recently found the bankruptcy in Brighton to be the “worst game” he could remember. In English stadiums, too, ridicule is the first pursuer of the damage: the opposing fans sang that Klopp would be sacked the next day – while the Liverpool coach on the bench looked so depressed as if he had just received his termination papers.
In the course of the lack of results, the discussion about his future in Liverpool has become increasingly independent. After almost every unsuccessful game, disturbing rumors circulate, the public speculating: is he staying? Is he going? Does the club even dare to release him despite the contract term until 2026? Nothing is currently happening at the LFC without great drama. The Mass Journal Sun felt that Klopp’s tenure was “coming to an end”. With every defeat of the traditional club, the world always seems to end. Just why?
Although Jürgen Klopp, 55, introduced himself as “Normal One” in Liverpool eight years ago – quite rightly because of his charismatic and not very aloof manner – his coaching career, which is rich in titles, does not correspond to the norm. Due to the successes with Liverpool, expectations have built up in which Klopp will not be allowed a mixed season with currently tenth place in the table. His meaningful facial expressions, his gestures, the power of words; All this increases the emotions in the old passion club Liverpool – positively and negatively. They can inspire as well as burden, at the moment his frustration in the tonality probably paints the situation more gloomily than it is.
The style of play reinforces this impression. As soon as power football loses energy due to injuries, poor form or carelessness, it’s hard to miss. With the Wolves’ double strike at the beginning, Liverpool’s players, who otherwise conscientiously chase every ball, stopped defending – so that the subsequent performance receded into the background. She was quite appealing, apart from the missed goalscoring chances. No team in the demanding Premier League can afford such a careless approach to the game. The consequence: Liverpool is still waiting for their first win this year. The away record reads particularly unpleasantly with eight points from ten league games, most recently there have been three goals conceded in three games in a row (against Brentford, Brighton and Wolverhampton). How does Klopp deal with this unfamiliar misery for him?
Klopp would certainly have reason to hold his superiors accountable
At the press conference after the Wolves game, he didn’t rail against the referees, as he often does, but against a reporter. He refused to answer his question – because of “all the things” he had written recently, Klopp said. In his crisis management, it is noticeable that he always protects his club – both individual players and the owners around John Henry, Tom Werner and Mike Gordon, who hold the shares in the club through the Fenway Sports Group (FSG). Klopp would certainly have reason to hold his superiors accountable. For years, the sports investment company from Boston benefited from his work, which is reflected most in the club’s increase in value – without the owners having to invest above average for it.
But the financial rearmament of the competitors, who are still looking for richer financiers, calls into question the business principle of the Americans, according to which the club should be largely self-supporting. To date, FSG has not presented more than the announcement that it is considering a (partial) sale in order to generate fresh capital. The silence of the reclusive majority shareholder Henry, who usually only lets the return speak for itself, keeps Liverpool in the dark – and makes planning more difficult.
This approach shakes the foundations of the club, whose stability has been a key feature of its success in recent years. There was a sense of harmony, sovereignty and strength working together between FSG representative Gordon, sporting director Michael Edwards and coach Klopp. In the summer of 2022, however, Edwards took a break. He was succeeded by Julian Ward, who surprisingly handed in his departure at the end of the season in November. As does Ian Graham, who is responsible for the data analysis on which many good player signings are based. And Gordon, an important link between the owner company and the club, is said to have given up some of his tasks. Gordon, who has steered the club’s fortunes for a decade, is “the brains behind everything” because he decides what is done and what is not, Klopp said some time ago.
From the triumvirate that organized the day-to-day business together, more or less only Jürgen Klopp remained. Just how much longer? Given his huge merits, nobody really dares to confront him about his future at Liverpool. After the recent defeat, it was a bit difficult to say whether he still had “trust in his abilities” to master the situation. And? “Yes! Yes! Yes! Absolutely!” Klopp clarified. His expression was very determined.