Jurgen Klopp defends Liverpool owners FSG, insisting they’re ‘not bad people’ but ‘made a bad decision’ over failed Super League breakaway – as he reveals he STILL hasn’t talked to John W Henry but admits his public apology was ‘personal enough’
- Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has defended club’s owners Fenway Sports Group
- The fallout of the collapsed failed European Super League continued on Friday
- Reds were one of six Premier League sides to originally sign up to breakaway
- Klopp insisted the FSG group ‘are not bad people’ but ‘made a bad decision’
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has defended the club’s owners Fenway Sports Group as the fallout of the failed European Super League continues.
The Merseyside club were one of six Premier League sides to originally sign up to the controversial breakaway league on Sunday but pulled out two days later alongside Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham.
Liverpool owner John W Henry publicly apologised to Liverpool fans, Klopp and the players on Wednesday morning and the Reds boss has insisted the FSG group are ‘not bad people’.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has defended the club’s owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG)
FSG, founded by John W Henry, came under fire after initially signing Reds up to Super League
‘I have known the owners for six years,’ Klopp said in his pre-match press conference for their clash against Newcastle on Saturday.
‘I know there were some moments when they might not have made the right decision, this time for sure. But it doesn’t change things for me, I prefer to deal with problems with people I know.’
‘I hope the bond between us and the supporters gets even stronger. Our owners are not bad people, they just made a bad decision, but let’s carry on. Let’s go back to the beautiful game.’
Asked if he has talked to Henry directly since the collapse of the European Super League, Klopp added: ‘I don’t think it’s necessary.
‘I was mentioned in the apology and so was the team. That was personal enough for me.’
Liverpool’s squad ramped up their response to the Super League plans on Tuesday night with the entire team sharing messages across their social media platforms that read: ‘We don’t like it and we don’t want it to happen. This is our collective position. Our commitment to this football club and its supporters is absolute and unconditional.’
Klopp revealed he has not talked directly to Henry since the collapse of controversial project
It came after Liverpool boss Klopp was left to face the music on Monday evening around the club’s Premier League game against Leeds.
Klopp’s opposition to the Super League had been well known – he had spoken out against it in 2019.
On Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football he said: ‘My opinions didn’t change. I heard first time about it yesterday (Sunday) and when you try and prepare for a very difficult game like Leeds United and then so far we got some information, not a lot to be honest – most of the things you can read.
‘It’s a tough one people are not happy with that, I can understand that but I can’t say a lot about it to be honest. We were not involved in any processes, me nor the players we didn’t know about it. We’ll have to wait and see how it develops.
‘I’m 53 years old since I was first a professional, the Champions League was there. As a manager it was my aim to coach a team there. I like the Champions League, the competitive factor of football. I like the fact that West Ham might play Champions League next year. I don’t want them to because we want to do that. But they have a chance like that.
‘What can I say? Liverpool is much more than some decisions and the most important things in football is the supporters and the teams and we have to make sure nothing comes between them.’
