Erik ten Hag believes he understands why Jurgen Klopp is leaving Liverpool at the end of the season after nine years at the club.
After taking over in 2015, Klopp has guided Liverpool to victory in both the Premier League and the Champions League. ten Hag applauded Klopp for his work in doing this, but he also admitted that the pressure of the position has taken its toll on the German.
‘I can understand that,’ said Ten Hag.
‘Nine years is a long time. I think it’s a period by building up and achieving targets, but also I think setbacks and going into difficult periods. The Premier League is very intense.
‘The combination with European club football, when you’re there nine years it’s a long period and I can understand he is running out of energy, and that is one of his arguments to step down.’
Although Klopp’s exit hurts United’s bitterest opponents Liverpool, Ten Hag believes that English football may not benefit much from it.
‘It’s no good for the Premier League,’ he added.
‘So he has made an era there, he built the club, he brought the club back where they belong, so congratulations on that. He has done an amazing job in Liverpool.’
The 56-year-old German manager said he is “running out of energy” after winning the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup over nine years at Anfield in a shocking interview that surprised the football world on Friday morning.
He also hinted that he might never manage in football again.
‘I will leave the club at the end of the season,’ he said.
‘I can understand that it’s a shock for a lot of people in this moment, when you hear it for the first time, but obviously I can explain it – or at least try to explain it.
‘It is that I am, how can I say it, running out of energy. I have no problem now, obviously, I knew it already for longer that I will have to announce it at one point, but I am absolutely fine now. I know that I cannot do the job again and again and again and again.’
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