Jurgen Klopp has made the valid point that Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger had things a great deal easier when they started out at Manchester United and Arsenal.
The Liverpool boss used their examples to explain why he won’t still be managing when he’s 70 during an appearance on BBC Two’s The Premier League Show.
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While we’d undoubtedly all love to see the smiley German with us for as long as possible, Klopp’s made it pretty clear here that he cannot imagine going on for as long as those two – and for good reason.
In fairness to Klopp, he’s perfectly respectful to the duo, but rightly acknowledges that the game as changed so much from when Fergie would’ve started out at United in particular.
The Reds boss compared it to being on ‘holiday’, though he also admitted he doesn’t concern himself with checking social media and adding to his stress.
‘I respect Arsene and Sir Alex a lot for what they did for football. But the game changed a lot,’ he said.
‘The first 15 years, around about, for these two guys were like holiday in comparison to what they had in the last 15 years of their job.
‘I’m not on social media, I don’t read it. But it has influence from all sides, things that I don’t understand. I’m 50 I feel young in all things of life, but I’m too old for this.
‘In 20 years time I am 70, yes I can guarantee I am not here.’
Klopp certainly seems to be building something very exciting at Liverpool, but the nature of the modern game and 24/7 media circus means any small slip-up could cost him his job at any time.
If given the sheer time and level of control Ferguson had throughout some tough years at United, who knows what he could achieve for us?