Graham Potter was the 12th Premier League manager to lose his job this season. Klopp’s men will be looking to face troubled Chelsea tomorrow
After Graham Potter’s dismissal from Chelsea following their defeat to Aston Villa, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said that he feels like “the elephant in the room.” Potter had been at the club for less than seven months and his departure made him the 12th Premier League manager to be sacked this season.
Chelsea will host Liverpool in their upcoming match after Klopp’s team suffered a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester City.
Liverpool is currently having a poor season, standing at the eighth position, having lost nine league games, and eight points behind Manchester United, who is at the fourth spot. Klopp acknowledges that his past achievements are the reason he is still employed.
“The elephant in the room is why I’m still sitting here, in this crazy world. Last man standing,” Klopp told reporters.
“I’m aware of the fact that I’m sitting here because of the past, not because of what we did this season.
“If it was my first season, that would be slightly different. Yes, we have smart owners, they know about the situation, but you better ask them yourselves.”
Klopp feels like ‘the elephant in the room’
Asked if he was afraid of becoming the 13th Premier League boss to lose their job this season, Klopp replied: “No, no. But I don’t think that Graham was afraid!
“There’s no need to be afraid, I’m here to deliver. I’m not here as a talisman or whatever, or for murals on walls. I’m here to deliver, nothing else in my mind. But I know I’m here because of the last few years.
“I don’t like the fact that I have to pretty much rely on that. Is it right or not? We will see in the future. I am fully in, there’s no doubt, but we have to sort it.
“We cannot just continue playing like we do from time to time. Not always, thank God, but from time to time – it’s really not allowed. I’m really disappointed by us, that we do these kind of things, but they happen. We have to find a way out, that’s what we’re working on.”
Brendan Rodgers was also sacked by Leicester City, who were in 19th place in the Premier League at the time, shortly before Potter’s dismissal. These two sackings came just a week after Tottenham parted ways with Antonio Conte.
“I think both clubs [Chelsea and Leicester] are not where they expect to be,” Klopp said. “I cannot say a lot more about it. And I respect them a lot. And I like them both. When I met them, really good people, fantastic managers, both of them, but still, things can go the wrong way.
“I’m aware of the fact that I’m sitting here because of the past, not because of what we did this season“
“When decision-makers at a club think they have to change, then they change. I think we all accept that’s part of the business.
“That’s it, a strange week. Conte was the last week, [Julian] Nagelsmann [sacked by Bayern Munich], and now these two. The season gets into a decisive part and people are afraid of maybe not reaching their targets.
“You would have to ask the decisive people what they will say about it. For all four I mentioned, the managing future is still bright. It’s not a disaster.”
Klopp expressed uncertainty about the extent to which Potter’s sacking would affect Chelsea’s performance, but he did anticipate that the Blues would maintain a similar playing style. However, he emphasized that Liverpool must respond with a strong performance in their upcoming match.
“As badly [needed] as possible,” Klopp said, before calling the defeat to City a “super strange game”.
“It’s unacceptable, but it happened anyway. Now we have to make sure we are ready, that’s it,” he added.
