Mourinho: Why Liverpool and City don’t need Klopp and Pep

Joe Williams
Jurgen Klopp Pep Guardiola Liverpool Manchester City

Jose Mourinho thinks the “structure” in place at Manchester City and Liverpool means that both clubs will be successful even if they lose their managers.

City pipped Champions League winners Liverpool to the Premier League title last season by a point, while Pep Guardiola’s men also lifted the FA Cup and League Cup in 2018/19.

And now Jurgen Klopp‘s side are leading the way in the Premier League with a nine-point gap between themselves and fourth-placed City, while Liverpool are also eight ahead of nearest challengers Leicester City and Chelsea.

When asked by the Daily Telegraph (quotes via the Evening Standard) why Liverpool and City were having so much success recently, Mourinho said: “I think the structure of the clubs.

“When you look at City, for example: the owner, [chief executive] Ferran Soriano, [director of football]​ Txiki Begiristain, Pep Guardiola, Pep’s staff and then the players. This looks like harmony, empathy, chemistry, quality, sharing the same project, sharing the same ideas.

“Liverpool? I also think that Jurgen [Klopp] is in a good position. He is very stable. I think he has control of his ‘areas’. He is supported by people who think the same way, the structure of the club.

“Ok, Pep: fantastic coach. Jurgen: fantastic coach. I think if tomorrow one of them leaves and another top coach comes – of course he has to be top like they are – the team will still be there [at that level]. I think performance is globality. I think basically it is that.”