Sunday 11 October 2015

Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool job is the biggest challenge in football


New Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has described the Anfield job as "the biggest challenge" in world football.
The 48-year-old German was appointed as Brendan Rodgers' successor on Thursday, signing a three-year deal worth £15m.
He takes over a side who are 10th in the Premier League with 12 points from eight games.
"I was never a guy for an easy way," Klopp told LFCTV. "This is the biggest challenge in football. It is the most interesting job in world football."
Klopp, who will be joined at Anfield by his former Borussia Dortmund assistants Zeljko Buvac and Peter Krawietz, continued: "I read in the papers it is a disaster, but we are only six points to the top position in the table.
"It is interesting that nobody is satisfied or patient. We have to think about what to change. That is my job.
"I know what I want. First I need to talk to the players to find a common way. We will find that and who wants to do what I propose.
"Whoever wants to do what I want can be a good friend of mine. And it is not so bad a thing to be a friend of mine."

'Problems to solve'

Play media
Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool's rock star coach
Rodgers led Liverpool to a second-place finish in 2014, but they managed only sixth last season.
Klopp, who won the Bundesliga twice and reached the 2013 Champions League final during his seven years at Dortmund, said: "I am here because I believe in the potential of the team.
"In this moment we are not the best team in the world, but who cares? We want to be the best team in the world in the future.
"There are problems, you need to solve them. We have good defenders, strikers and midfielders. The first game is at Tottenham [in the Premier League on 17 October]. We need to make a team for this game.
"You have to change from doubter to believer. We have to change our performance because nobody is satisfied at the moment."

Klopp facts

Born: 16 June 1967, Stuttgart
Playing career: Mainz (1989-2001)
Managerial career: Mainz (2001-08), Borussia Dortmund (2008-15), Liverpool (2015- )
Honours: (all with Dortmund) Bundesliga 2010-11, 2011-12, German Cup 2011-12, German Supercup 2008, 2013, 2014
Individual honours: German manager of the year 2011, 2012

Tuesday 6 October 2015

Sergio Aguero 'out for a month' with hamstring injury


Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero is set for a month out with a hamstring injury suffered on international duty.
The 27-year-old, who scored five goals in City's win against Newcastle last weekend, lasted just 22 minutes of Argentina's defeat to Ecuador.
"I think I'll be a month without playing," Aguero told TyC Sports in Buenos Aires.
City's problems increased  as David Silva came off in Spain's 4-0 win over Luxembourg with a sprained ankle.
David Silva
The 29-year-old midfielder hobbled off early in the first half as a result of a challenge by midfielder Lars Gerson. Spain manager Vicente del Bosque said he had no timeline on a return for Silva.
Aguero could miss four Premier League games - including the first Manchester derby of the season on 25 October - and two Champions League fixtures against Sevilla.
His absence leaves City with just Wilfried Bony as a recognised central striker, with youngster Kelechi Iheanacho in reserve.

Sunday 4 October 2015

Sam Allardyce: New Sunderland boss had doubts about job

New Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce says he had reservations about taking the job on but the lure of the challenge convinced him to accept.
The 60-year-old succeeded Dick Advocaat on Friday, taking charge of a club lying 19th in the Premier League, five points from safety.
"It is in my blood. The challenge is something I need. It is almost an addiction," said Allardyce.
"Waking up and coming in here, it's not work really."
Allardyce is the 13th man to take charge of Sunderland on a permanent or caretaker basis in the last 13 years and is under no illusions over the size of the task.

Sam Allardyce's Premier League record

GamesWinDrawLossForAgainstWin %
Bolton
226
80
66
80
275
301
35.4
Newcastle
21
7
5
9
27
33
33.33
Blackburn
76
26
21
29
86
108
34.21
West Ham
114
35
28
51
129
151
30.7
Total
437
148
120
169
517
593
33.87
"It is a big challenge," he said. "Even at this early stage of the season it is clear we are in trouble.
"The fact that we have 30 games will be as important as anything else because it may take the vast majority of them to get safe. It can take such a long time to catch up.
"My job is hopefully not to get into that panic and fear zone where there are a few games left and if you don't win, you get relegated. I have some time now to try and sort that out as quickly as I can."
When asked if there were any reservations about taking on the job given the turnover of managers in recent years, Allardyce said: "Yes, I think there was."
But he stressed a "key element" of taking the job on was a belief he could work with owner Ellis Short to make the club successful.
"I'm not saying we're going to be friends, I'm not saying we're not going to disagree. But what I am saying is we're going to try and make the right decisions for the benefit of the club," he added.