Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admitted that he is undaunted by rival
clubs who sign players for big money and says he wants to do things
differently on Merseyside.
With Jose Mourinho's Manchester United
seemingly close to sealing a deal for Juventus' French midfielder Paul
Pogba for more than a £100 million, the former Borussia Dortmund boss is
unfazed by his own club's transfer tactics.
The Reds' two biggest signings in the summer have been Southampton forward Sadio Mane for £34m, and Newcastle United midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum for £23m, along with names like Joel Matip and Loris Karius.
Klopp has stated this week that he is unsure if the club will be bringing more new faces into the team, but is ready to kick off the season with the current players at his disposal.
"If you bring one player in for £100m and he gets injured, then it all goes through the chimney," he said.
"The day that this is football, I'm not in a job anymore, because the game is about playing together.
"That
is how everybody in football understands it. You always want to have
the best, but building the group is necessary to be successful.
"Other
clubs can go out and spend more money and collect top players. I want
to do it differently. I would even do it differently if I could spend
that money.
"I don't know exactly how much money we could spend because nobody has told me, 'No, you can't do this.'
"If
I spend money, it is because I am trying to build a team, a real team.
Barcelona did it. You can win championships, you can win titles, but
there is a manner in which you want it."
Klopp
was also quick to add that he has no interest in rivalling other clubs
for the big names in the market, preferring to look for potential that
can be groomed, rather than fight in "the same pool" as other big clubs.
"If you all swim in the same pool, the pool is too small -- you all go for the same players," he added.
"There are a lot of players outside that pool -- good players on to the next step in their career. We try to find them.
"The
best player of the last season is good to know but it is more
interesting trying to find out who will be the best next year.
"If you knew it now that would be a really cool transfer! It would be much cheaper too. That is what we work for.
"It
is not about being creative because creative is cool or something. It
is about finding the players who can make the next step with us."
Liverpool are currently participating in the International Champions Cup, and their next game is on Saturday against AC Milan at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
No comments:
Post a Comment