Carragher reveals time Sir Alex Ferguson made bold Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool success call which has transpired


Jamie Carragher has revealed a past chat with Sir Alex Ferguson in which the Manchester United legend predicted success for Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.

The German coach has enjoyed a fantastic journey at Anfield following his arrival in 2015. He took the Reds to three albeit unsuccessful finals early on in his tenure. However, he now has five major trophies to his name at Liverpool.

The 2019 Champions League final victory allowed for subsequent Super Cup and Club World Cup success. Then, top-flight success for the first time in 30 years followed for Liverpool.

After a tough season last term amid a host of injuries, the Reds are on for a quadruple this campaign.

Carabao Cup success is in the bag and Klopp has guided Liverpool to the FA Cup final. Elsewhere, they are in the Champions League semi-finals and are chasing Manchester City for the Premier League title.

Liverpool’s latest result on their trophy hunt saw them thrash Man Utd 4-0 at Anfield. United are on a particular low amid consistent struggles to hit the heights since Ferguson left in 2013.

Speaking on the Gary Neville podcast, Carragher revealed a past conversation with Ferguson. The former defender revealed that the Scot predicted a fantastic career for Klopp at Anfield.

“I played in a game at Old Trafford, I think it was Michael Carrick’s testimonial, and Alex Ferguson went around the dressing room shaking hands, saying ‘thanks for coming’, I think he was manager of one of the teams,” Carragher said.

“Jurgen Klopp had been at the club about a month and he [Ferguson] came to me and said, ‘you’ve got a manager’.

“I went, ‘oh yeah, good, Jurgen Klopp’s made a decent start’, and he [Ferguson] said, ‘no, no, I’m worried’.

“And that was at the time I think Manchester United were still above Liverpool, but he [Ferguson] knew through meeting him I think at the UEFA meetings or the Champions League, wherever it was, he could feel that sort of personality.”

Carragher added that Klopp and Ferguson share a similarity in that they are more than just a coach for their clubs.

Klopp shares Ferguson similarity

“You talk about great managers and tactics and formations, the great managers all have that, of course they do,” Carragher said.

“But, it’s a force of personality, and that’s what Jurgen Klopp has, that’s what Sir Alex Ferguson’s got.

“I think at the end of his [Klopp’s] time, it will feel like when Bill Shankly left Liverpool. The feeling with Liverpool supporters already is, ‘he’s not going to go in two years is he?’.”

Carragher concluded that Liverpool’s players would “absolutely” rather lose Virgil van Dijk than their coach in 2024.

Liverpool quadruple being eyed

The Reds return to action on Sunday when facing Everton in the Merseyside derby.

However, going for four trophies means a gruelling schedule as the fixtures come thick and fast.

They then play Villarreal in the Champions League semi-finals either side of a trip to Newcastle.

Two more Premier League fixtures then await before the FA Cup final against Chelsea on May 14.





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