Jurgen Klopp conference: explains how transfer committee will work with Liverpool & declares: ‘I hope to win title in 4 years’

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Jurgen Klopp’s first Liverpool press-conference had the country’s football media on the edge of their seats this morning, as his 10am Q&A session was full of wonderful soundbites that will go down in history.

Not only did he declare himself ‘The normal one,’ when asked for a quote to match Jose Moruinho’s ‘special one’ claim, but he said he reckons Liverpool can win a title in four seasons and asked the media to leave him alone from 11am onwards this morning!

Most interestingly, he shrugged off the question on the transfer committee, claiming he’s happy to have the help of those around him provided he gets the first and the last word. He says it won’t take much time anyway, because they’ll only be discussing the highest level players anyway.

SEE MORE:
Klopp interview – full transcript: Anfield, ambition, tactics, squad strength & fans – ‘I have a dream!’
Carragher teases: ‘I can’t wait to start working with Klopp’, after Jurgen’s brilliant Liverpool interview

BBC Sport live blogged the interview, and we’ve taken the best quotes, here:

On being Liverpool boss:

“It is the biggest honour I can imagine,” Klopp began.

“It is one of the biggest clubs in the world. I have an opportunity to try and help in a situation that is not so difficult as some of the people in this room feel. It is a good moment to come here. I am proud.

“The intensity of the football and how the people live football in Liverpool… It is not a normal club. It is a special club.”

“The Premier League is one of the most difficult leagues in the world. Only one can be the champion but five, six or seven clubs could be. We have to develop.

“This is a good moment. It is not important who is the winner of the Premier League, only that we play our own game and feel the confidence and trust of the people. We have to change from doubters to believers.”

Transfer committee:

“This is a crazy discussion. It is not a problem. We have talked about it. I am not an idiot.

“All we want to discuss is very good players. I need other people to get the perfect information. When we have this we sign or sell a player. But it is very easy to handle.”

Self description:

“I don’t want to describe myself,” Klopp said. “I am a totally normal guy. I am the normal one maybe? I had a great opportunity to take Dortmund for seven years. And now I am here. I want to enjoy my work. People have told me a lot about the English press. It is up to you to show me they are all liars.”

 

“Everybody knows me.”

“I haven’t changed in four months,” he promises. “It’s a transition game. You will see this. All the things that make football interesting for me. I have said this phrase ‘full-throttle’ football. It will be this.”

“It is surreal. But I have to accept this. I don’t care about things like this. I am a normal football manager and I want to work with the team and be on the pitch. When I left Dortmund, I felt it was not so important what people think when you come in but what they feel when you leave.

Comparison with Dortmund and title target:

“I ask, please give us time. If you are patient and are prepared to work, in a special Liverpool way we can be successful. If I am sitting here in four years, we will win one title in this time.”

“It is impossible to compare [Liverpool with Dortmund when he first arrived]. It is similar but different. We don’t have a pre-season but it is not important.

“We did in Dortmund what we had to do to improve and work to a common idea of play. It is the same idea here. I am not here only because LFC was calling, I believe in the potential of this team.”

“I don’t compare myself with the genius managers in the history of football. It is cool that you are all looking forward to the next few years with me but it is not my job to do this.

“None of the great managers said in their first press conference that they wanted to be a legend when I leave here. We have to work in the present.”

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