Erik ten Hag has praised the job that Jurgen Klopp has done at Liverpool, after the German announced he was stepping down at the end of the season.
Klopp has called time on his Liverpool managerial reign, and will leave Anfield when his contract runs out in June.
Ten Hag hailed Klopp’s tenure ahead of Manchester United’s FA Cup tie at Newport County.
“It’s no good for the Premier League. So he has made an era there, he built the club, he brought the club back where they belong, so congrats on that. He has done an amazing job in Liverpool”, said ten Hag.
Klopp had confirmed he had ‘ran out of energy’ when announcing his departure, something ten Hag sympathised with.
“I can understand that. Nine years is a long time. I think it’s a period by building up, achieving targets but also I think setbacks and going into difficult periods, the Premier League is very intense, the combination with European club football, when you’re there nine years it’s a long period and I can understand he is running out of energy and that is one of his arguments to step down”, said the United boss.
The United manager also spoke of the lift around the club since the investment of INEOS.
It was confirmed Sir Jim Radcliffe acquired a 25% stake in the club on Christmas Eve last year, however United are yet to make a January signing, with the deadline coming up next week.
Ten Hag confirmed the standards of the club will improve under the new regime.
“It gives spirit in this whole club, everyone notices this club is going into a period of changes and it’s because we want to achieve high targets, standards have to change, we started with this one-and-a-half year ago”, ten Hag said.
“I’m sure INEOS and me are very aligned on this, we understand we have to change, we started that process last season with the dressing room but also many departments. I am very happy to raise the standards, to collaborate more and INEOS can have a big impact on that.”
