Fergie is the 鈥楯ohn Lennon of football鈥
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LIVERPOOL’S Juergen Klopp described former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson as the “John Lennon of football” ahead of tomorrow’s Premier League meeting between the arch-rivals.
Klopp’s comments on the man who retired having fulfilled his long-standing ambition of knocking Liverpool “off their perch” will raise eyebrows on Merseyside, especially after he compared the Scotsman to the city’s most famous son.
Ferguson led United to a record 20th Premier League title before calling time on his career, eclipsing the 18 won by Liverpool, a club with whom the United manager always had a stormy relationship.
“Maybe Sir Alex Ferguson is the greatest ever,” Klopp told reporters yesterday. “I had really good moments with Sir Alex. It was an honor to talk with him.”
Ferguson, a master at playing mind games with rival managers, has gone on record to express his admiration for the German, who was less effusive in his praise for United’s current manager Louis van Gaal.
“I don’t know Louis too well but we have had a few intensive games. We both want to be successful,” the German said.
“We are different characters. He is more experienced. Maybe I’m more lively on the touchline than him, but sometimes that is not always good.”
Klopp said he needs football to be “entertaining” but refused to criticize the approach of Van Gaal, whose tactics have angered United fans more used to the attacking football played by the Old Trafford club under its two most successful managers — Matt Busby and Ferguson.
And the fact United is currently sixth in the Premier League table — 9 points behind leader Arsenal — has not helped Van Gaal win over fans.
Klopp, whose team is three points adrift of Van Gaal’s men, said: “I am not too close with the news about Manchester United in the last week. The stories (going) around I am not interested in.
“Louis van Gaal is one of the most successful managers in the world. He has a special idea of football and as an opponent you have to respect this.”
However, Klopp added: “I am a football fan and if I watch football I like to be entertained, it is one of the most important things in football.
“You can celebrate big victories together, you have to go through big defeats together — that is what football is.
“Between these two things you have to play football people want to talk about.
“I didn’t like 3-3 too much against Arsenal (on Wednesday) but a lot of people liked it as there was a lot of action and goals and that is what football should be.
“It would not be the same game if people went into the stadium and thought only about tactics and thought ‘This player has to move three yards left or four yards right’.”
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