Former Liverpool defender Jose Enrique has blamed Fenway Sports Group (FSG) for Jurgen Klopp’s decision to leave the club, suggesting the German had grown tired of being asked to perform ‘miracles’.
On Friday, Klopp stunned the football world with the announcement that he is to leave Liverpool at the end of the season, bringing an end to his trophy-laden reign at Anfield.
Klopp – who has brought the Champions League, Premier League, FIFA Club World Cup, FA Cup, EFL Cup and UEFA Super Cup trophies to Anfield – signed a new four-year contract with the club in 2022, but his tenure is now set to end after eight-and-a-half seasons.
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Despite overseeing a period of major success since acquiring ownership of the club in 2010, FSG has attracted fierce criticism from supporters over several issues, ranging from Liverpool’s support for the European Super League project to a perceived lack of investment in the playing squad.
Speaking to Sky Sports News after Friday’s announcement, Enrique – who spent a half-season under Klopp following the German’s 2015 arrival at Anfield – asked whether FSG had forced Klopp’s hand.
Watch or read our emotional interview with Jürgen Klopp in full as he discusses today’s news in detail and explains the reasons for his decision.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) JANUARY 26, 2024
“You cannot blame him. Obviously, he’s a legend,” the former left-back said. “I think Liverpool should build him a statue – it’s because of him that Liverpool have achieved what they have in the last few years.
“I think something happened, I have my opinion. Maybe it is to do with the spending, with the owners. He was fighting with them every year to sign the players he needed.
“He cannot do miracles all the time. I think he’s just grown tired of that.
“From my side, as a former player… every year he needs to do miracles to win stuff. In this January transfer window, I think the team needs something, but the owners won’t do it.
“I really believe they need one or two players, and I think Klopp does as well, even if he doesn’t say it.
“I think he started to feel it will be a good season, and maybe he will leave like a king. When I first saw it, I was really mad, not at him but at the owners. I was really, really mad.”
Jurgen Klopp 🫂 The Kop PIC.TWITTER.COM/OX9GLEGRBG
— Premier League (@premierleague) JANUARY 26, 2024
With Klopp’s time on Merseyside coinciding with Pep Guardiola making Manchester City the Premier League’s dominant force, Enrique feels the German may have grown tired of struggling to compete financially.
“You have a manager like him, who is able to compete with Manchester City, who can buy whoever they want. He knows Liverpool cannot spend this kind of money, but he needs backup,” Enrique said.
“How can you change your opinion from renewing your contract a few months ago to leaving at the end of the season? It doesn’t make sense to me, but I respect it.
“He’s a legend of the club. I was very, very lucky to be under him for a season even if I wasn’t at my best, he’s a great guy and one of the best I ever saw as a manager.”
