Ralf Rangnick has hailed Jurgen Klopp as one of the best manager’s in the world ahead of bringing his Manchester United side to Anfield tonight.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference via manutd.com, Rangnick was asked about the job Klopp has done at Liverpool.
“I think we have spoken about that earlier on and the same happened at other clubs, when he came to Borussia Dortmund or even when he started his coaching career at Mainz,” said Rangnick.
“He developed all those clubs and raised the whole club, not only the team, on a different kind of level and that is what modern management is all about. He’s no doubt one of the best, if not the best coach, not only now but also in the past couple of years.
“As I said, if this should be a role model, I don’t know but it’s definitely, again, no coincidence what has happened there in the last six years.”
The United caretaker manager is often cited as one of Jurgen’s biggest coaching influences. Let’s hope Klopp can put his personal feelings for Rangnick to one side tonight and deliver another crushing victory over Liverpool’s rivals.
Keane won’t be happy
Rangnick’s comments will no doubt add to the argument of those who claim English football’s rivalries have ‘gone soft.’
Ahead of Liverpool’s game with Manchester City last week there was plenty of talk that the matchup between the pair was the country’s best rivalry of all time.
That kind of talk will only be heightened after the two played out a couple of breathless games over the past 10 days.
However, there are those like United legend Roy Keane, who think the rivalry is a little too friendly.
“You’d like a bit more nastiness between the two,” Keane said of City and Liverpool via LADbible TV. “I’d like a bit more needle between these two teams.”
Viewed through that lens, we shudder to think what Keane would make of Rangnick’s effusive praise for his Liverpudlian counterpart.
Still a special game
Despite Liverpool v United no longer holding the most sporting significance it once did, it’s surely still the biggest game in English football.
With the Old Trafford club at a low ebb, it will hurt supporters to hear their manager so openly lauding Klopp. Whatever the personal relationship between the pair, it isn’t the kind of thing fans will be happy about.
From a Liverpool point of view though, it’s brilliant. Having seen United collect trophy after trophy under Alex Ferguson, the shoe is finally on the other foot.
Hopefully The Reds can once again show evidence of the size the gap between the two teams at Anfield tonight.
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