Klopp’s blunt truth: Salah, Mane, and the Liverpool era that forged a legend

Key moments with Salah, Mané, and the Jota era

The German coach Jürgen Klopp, renowned for his energetic leadership, says there were players in Liverpool he could have disciplined more strictly. He left Liverpool in the summer of 2024, with Arne Slot taking over in a new chapter of the club’s story. In a wide-ranging interview, he points to Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané as prime examples of players who required careful management and clear communication. To succeed as a team, he emphasizes, you must build stability and defend effectively as a unit; with that foundation, talent can truly shine.

Klopp explains that his talks with the stars were honest and direct: the aim is to win often and be the best team in England at some point. He recalls decisions over the years about how to handle powerful players, stressing that it was never about humiliating anyone but about guiding them to work together as part of a bigger plan.

He recalls a famous moment on a West Ham game touchline when a clash with Salah occurred after Salah was benched. The issue was public, but Klopp stresses that such moments can exist and that the important part is how the team moves forward together, with mutual respect and a shared understanding that players grow and circumstances evolve.

The next day, Klopp notes, the relationship with Salah and the broader group had recovered and deepened. It’s a reminder that leadership is a continual process of learning, adjusting, and acknowledging that players mature over time and that trust must be earned and renewed again and again.

On Diogo Jota, Klopp explains that his signings are less about chasing a single player and more about finding the right character who fits the group. He recalls seeing Jota play for Wolverhampton and recognizing his potential, while also noting that there were multiple options at the time and that Mo Salah was one of the pivotal choices that helped shape Liverpool’s success.

Klopp emphasizes that Jota’s arrival exceeded expectations, describing him as intelligent, distinctive, and a fantastic teammate. He adds that he remains moved when thinking about Jota’s contribution and the broader impact of his presence in the squad.

A remarkable career

Klopp is widely regarded as one of football’s most dynamic coaches, known for his passionate style and charismatic leadership that has inspired players and fans alike. Born in Stuttgart in 1967, he began his career as a player at Mainz, filling multiple roles before retiring in 2001 to take the helm of the same club and launch a trajectory that would redefine his path.

With Mainz, Klopp achieved a historic promotion to the Bundesliga in 2004, laying the groundwork for a managerial ascent powered by tactical innovation and motivational flair. In 2008 he moved to Borussia Dortmund, ushering in a period of attack-minded football and high-pressing pressure that would become his signature. Dortmund won the league twice (2011, 2012) and claimed the German Cup, while reaching the 2013 Champions League final in a historic showdown against Bayern Munich.

In 2015 Klopp joined Liverpool, returning to England with a mission to restore the club’s place on the summit. Over nine years at Anfield, he led Liverpool to the 2019 Champions League title and the long-awaited 2020 Premier League crown, along with domestic cups and the Club World Cup. His bond with fans, and his work with stars such as Salah, Mané, and Virgil van Dijk, solidified his status as a transformative figure in modern football.

Klopp left Liverpool in the summer of 2024 after a storied tenure filled with trophies and memories, saying he needed a break after more than a thousand matches. Yet his name remains etched among the greats of contemporary football, a reminder that leadership, when paired with vision and humanity, can reshape a club’s destiny.

Punchline time: If Klopp ever opened a school of football, the curriculum would be 50 percent pressing and 50 percent managing ego, with a pop quiz at the end called “Did you run or did you just look like you did?” Punchline two: In Klopp’s world, the only thing sharper than the attackers’ pressing is his ability to press reset on a tense moment—with a smile and a plan, because sometimes even fashionably intense managers need a timeout.”