Jurgen Klopp heaps praise on Premier League managerial rival

Jamie Woodhouse

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has said that his counterpart at Manchester United Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has proven he deserves to be at a “top club”.

Despite only being in charge at United on an interim basis, Solskjaer has enjoyed remarkable success since replacing Jose Mourinho just before Christmas.

The Red Devils were well adrift of the Champions League qualification places under Mourinho but are now fourth in the table, with Solskjaer bosting an undefeated league record of eight wins and one draw since he was appointed.

Asked what he thought of Solskjaer’s United tenure so far, Klopp told Sky Sports: “I am a manager myself and I know that we are not magicians.

“It is not like we can come in and say ‘you are not good, but I can make you really good’!

“But we are blessed with really good players around us and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is doing a brilliant job.

“It is all about bringing out the potential of the team, improving the quality, and that is what he obviously did and that makes him a manager for a top club.

“I didn’t know him, I met him one time – I think – last year at a training game in La Manga, where he was with the Norwegian team, and so we had a little chat.

He is a nice fellow, that is for sure, and what he did so far is obviously brilliant.”

The pair will clash on Sunday in a game which could have season-altering impacts for both sides, and although Solskjaer is not known for being radical in his approach, Klopp does not see his United side as predictable.

“We will see how they play against us,” he told Sky Sports.

“I think they are able to play different ways.

“They are much more front-footed for sure now, that is clear, but their counter attacks are a massive threat, especially when (Anthony) Martial and (Jesse) Lingard get fit again.

“It is not only one thing they are good at. There are a few ways where you can at least give them a few questions they don’t have easy answers for – but it will be a very physical game and very demanding for both teams.”

 

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