Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp defends owners FSG, insisting they’re ‘not bad people’

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has defended the club’s owners Fenway Sports Group as the fallout of the failed European Super League continued on Friday.

The Merseyside club were one of six Premier League sides to originally sign up to the controversial breakaway league on Sunday but pulled out two days later alongside Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham.

Liverpool owner John W Henry publicly apologised to Liverpool fans, Klopp and the players on Wednesday morning and the Reds boss has insisted the FSG group are ‘not bad people’. 

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has defended the club’s owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG)

FSG, founded by John W Henry, came under fire after initially signing Reds up to Super League

‘I have known the owners for six years,’ Klopp said in his pre-match press conference for their clash against Newcastle on Saturday.

‘I know there were some moments when they might not have made the right decision, this time for sure. But it doesn’t change things for me, I prefer to deal with problems with people I know.

‘I hope the bond between us and the supporters gets even stronger. Our owners are not bad people, they just made a bad decision, but let’s carry on. Let’s go back to the beautiful game.’

Asked if he has talked to Henry directly since the collapse of the European Super League, Klopp added: ‘I don’t think it’s necessary. 

‘I was mentioned in the apology and so was the team. That was personal enough for me.’

Liverpool’s squad ramped up their response to the Super League plans on Tuesday night with the entire team sharing messages across their social media platforms that read: ‘We don’t like it and we don’t want it to happen. This is our collective position. Our commitment to this football club and its supporters is absolute and unconditional.’ 

Klopp revealed he has not talked directly to Henry since the collapse of controversial project

It came after Liverpool boss Klopp was left to face the music on Monday evening around the club’s Premier League game against Leeds.

Klopp’s opposition to the Super League had been well known – he had spoken out against it in 2019.

On Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football he said: ‘My opinions didn’t change. I heard first time about it yesterday (Sunday) and when you try and prepare for a very difficult game like Leeds United and then so far we got some information, not a lot to be honest – most of the things you can read.

‘It’s a tough one people are not happy with that, I can understand that but I can’t say a lot about it to be honest. We were not involved in any processes, me nor the players we didn’t know about it. We’ll have to wait and see how it develops.

‘I’m 53 years old since I was first a professional, the Champions League was there. As a manager it was my aim to coach a team there. I like the Champions League, the competitive factor of football. I like the fact that West Ham might play Champions League next year. I don’t want them to because we want to do that. But they have a chance like that.

Henry (centre, pictured with wife Linda Pizzuti) apologised publicly to Klopp and his players

‘What can I say? Liverpool is much more than some decisions and the most important things in football is the supporters and the teams and we have to make sure nothing comes between them.’

After 48 hours of silence as widespread anger and fury erupted across Europe at the Super League proposals, Henry appeared in a video message and said: ‘I want to apologise to all the fans and supporters of Liverpool Football Club for the disruption I caused over the past 48 hours.

‘It goes without saying but should be said that the project put forward was never going to stand without the support of the fans. No-one ever thought differently in England. Over these 48 hours you were very clear that it would not stand. We heard you. I heard you.

‘And I want to apologise to Jurgen, to Billy (Hogan, club chief executive), to the players and to everyone who works so hard at LFC to make our fans proud. They have absolutely no responsibility for this disruption. They were the most disrupted and unfairly so. This is what hurts most. They love your club and work to make you proud every single day.

Liverpool’s FSG owners, including principal chief Henry (left) and chairman Tom Werner (centre) find themselves in the heart of a storm with fans over the failed Super League

‘I know the entire LFC team has the expertise, leadership and passion necessary to rebuild trust and help us move forward. More than a decade ago when we signed up for the challenges associated with football, we dreamed of what you dreamed of. And we’ve worked hard to improve your club. Our work isn’t done. And I hope you’ll understand that even when we make mistakes, we’re trying to work in your club’s best interests. In this endeavour I’ve let you down.

‘Again, I’m sorry, and I alone am responsible for the unnecessary negativity brought forward over the past couple of days. It’s something I won’t forget. And shows the power the fans have today and will rightly continue to have.

‘If there’s one thing this horrible pandemic has clearly shown, it’s how crucial fans are to our sport and to every sport. It’s shown in every empty stadium. It’s been an incredibly tough year for all of us; virtually no-one unaffected. 

‘It’s important that the Liverpool football family remains intact, vital and committed to what we’ve seen from you globally, with local gestures of kindness and support. I can promise you I will do whatever I can to further that.’