Pep Lijnders disclosed that he had discussed taking over from Jurgen Klopp, and Erik ten Hag gave his opinion on Arne Slot’s selection.
Lijnders and Klopp spoke about him becoming the next Liverpool manager (Image: Roland Krivec/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
This summer is expected to bring a lot of changes to management, but Liverpool has already secured their position.
Following Jurgen Klopp’s resignation last week, Arne Slot is scheduled to begin his official position on Saturday. As a result, he will have an advantage over the coaches of some of his competitors. For example, Chelsea is searching for a new manager following the unexpected departure of Mauricio Pochettino on Tuesday.
In the interim, Erik ten Hag of Manchester United may be on the verge of being fired despite having just won the FA Cup. However, according to departing assistant Pep Lijnders, Liverpool might have had a different man in the dugout.
Lijnders divulges manager discussions
According to Lijnders, Klopp approached him several times in the past few seasons about taking over as his successor, but he turned the offer down each time.
Before Mike Gordon, president of the Fenway Sports Group, called to let him know that he wouldn’t be considered for the position, he disclosed that the German had contacted him twice this season. In an interview with The Athletic, Lijnders stated: “I’ve turned down a lot of clubs over the last three years.”
I’ve always stayed because I’m loyal to FSG and Jurgen. I was already eager to go demonstrate my abilities.
“In recent years, Judgen has asked me several times about taking over his position. I was asked this question by Jurgen twice this season, as well as the season before, but I declined each time.
“The first was that I genuinely thought ‘us’ were behind this project. I firmly believed that we ought to wrap up this project together, and Jurgen led it.
“Secondly, I’ve been at Liverpool for almost ten years,” he continued. I was eager to meet new people and work with my own team of players. I threw my all into this playing group.
If I stayed here, I believe the team would carry on in the same manner. The team, in my opinion, also needs something fresh. However, I was never entirely certain of how I would react if Mike Gordon called. “No, no, no,” you say, but then…
“Pep, we really thought about you, but I think it’s fair for you that we don’t put you after Jurgen,” Mike remarked. Mike is a decent person. He was also aware. I’d expressed my goals clearly. It was ideal going forward.
According to the ECHO, Shankley, Paisley, and Fagan are just a few examples of the managers that Liverpool’s assistants have succeeded. Although not many Liverpool supporters would be upset about Lijnders taking over for Klopp, it makes sense that he wouldn’t want the position right away.
“The comparison would always be there, and given all of Gordon’s efforts as number two, that would not seem fair, in his words. The football landscape has evolved since the 1980s, after all.
“It’s evident why Klopp wanted Lijnders to succeed him, but despite their unbreakable bond, the Dutchman himself makes it plain that he wants to be recognized as someone other than Klopp’s apprentice. The most obvious course of action isn’t always the best one.
Erik ten Hag renders a decision regarding Slot swapping Fellow Dutchman Ten Hag believes that Slot’s circumstances at Liverpool are “better” than his two years at Manchester United. After Saturday’s FA Cup victory, he arrived at Old Trafford and called the Red Devils “a mess.”
Ten Hag was asked to comment on former Eredvisie rival Slot’s hiring at Anfield prior to the championship game. “This is great news for the Dutch trainers’ guild, and Arne Slot fits Liverpool with his philosophy,” he told vi.nl.
“In terms of the club’s structure and the squad’s balance, he ends up in better waters than I did when I came to Manchester United from the Netherlands.”
“There is no doubt that Klopp has left Liverpool in a terrific place, which affords the new coach little excuse,” the ECHO states. However, it is well known that the club does not have the same financial resources available for transfers as United does.
Ten Hag has invested over £400 million in the last two years—a sum that FSG is unlikely to match in the same amount of time. Ten Hag might have arrived with nothing to lose because Slot would need to exert some effort to even come close to imitating Klopp.
