Jurgen Klopp insists Jose Mourinho's record will not be wrecked by his sacking from Manchester United - but admits circumstances means he has no sympathy for his old foe.
Mourinho hugged Klopp at the final whistle at Anfield on Sunday, with the pair sharing warm words following Liverpool's 3-1 win. But the German explained that Mourinho's situation could not be compared to a manager from a lower league team who does not know where he will find his next job.
'It's not that I don't feel for him,' said Klopp. 'I know it's difficult to get as a person. But if a manager got the sack in the Championship, League One or League Two, that's a bad moment because you don't know if they will get another job and stuff like that.
'If Jose wants to have another job, he has it in two days. That is easy. We talk about a high level. But from the personal point of view - and I know how ambitious he is - I'm pretty sure he doesn't take it that easy. He wanted to be successful at United and he was.
'But then it didn't work out in the way everybody wanted it to. Then you have to take the consequences. That's how it is in our job. It's the same for me. If the club thinks there is someone who can do it better, then they have to change.'
United have paid a huge sum to axe Mourinho and Klopp feels the enormity of severance pays now end up working in managers' favour.
'In our jobs it can be very expensive for clubs,' said Klopp. 'That is actually the only thing that saves our lives sometimes but that's the situation.
yellow6
130
Klopp a gentleman. Said some lovely things about Mourinho after hearing the news. All Mourinho would say about Klopp is that he hadn't won trophies. And although true, from one professional to another he never gave Klopp any credit for building such a promising team going forward. Only when United were hammered did he give credit to smoke screen his own shortcomings. Bye Bye.
Handsome Mike
51
Klopp is a peaceful soul..That's why his teams are always fighting in harmony.. But every now and then, Mourinho is in a fight with someone.. If he is not fighting the FA, He is fighting the board.. If he is not fighting his players, he is fighting with his backroom staff.. If it's not backroom staff, he is fighting with managers.. The air around Mourinho is always toxic, so much that it drains you after two years..And the third year, everybody is tired of him. What happened here, is similar to what happened to him at Real Madrid and Chelsea. So before you point your hateful fingers towards Pogba, remember all these and also remember that Pogba has never clashed with any of his managers till NASTY Mourinho came in.