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Jurgen Klopp decided to comment on Arsene Wenger’s 1,000th game in management after Liverpool’s 0-0 draw against Chelsea – and fans aren’t impressed by the ‘uncalled for’ comments.
Ahead of this weekend’s Premier League clash against Chelsea, an emotional Klopp said he was feeling “blessed” as he prepared for the 1,000th match of his managerial career.
Saturday’s game against the Blues arrived 21 years and 327 days after the German managed his first game – a 1-0 win for FSV Mainz over Duisburg in February 2001.
Klopp has since taken charge of 412 games as Liverpool boss, including a rather drab affair against their most recent opponents, Chelsea.
After the full-time whistle at Anfield, the former Borussia Dortmund boss was asked about his 1,000 game milestone in a post-match press conference, although his answer didn’t exactly go down well with some supporters.
Klopp said: “First and foremost, before the game I got a lot of messages [about my 1,000th game] and not all of them were nice. I think Arsene Wenger lost his 1,000th game 6-0, so I am really happy that didn’t happen.”
Here’s how social media reacted to the comments.
One fan said: “Bit insane to me that a manager of his ‘class’ consistently looks to drag other managers into his dark cloud of self pity. Very odd behaviour.”
A second wrote: “Jurgen Klopp should keep Mr. Wenger’s name out his mouth. He isn’t fit to zip Arsene’s coat,” while a third commented: “This lacks class on every level. Your team isn’t playing well, no need for Klopp to drag Wenger into this. Shame!”
You can watch that press conference moment below.
Of course, Wenger’s 1,000th game in management was a disaster from start to finish. Arsenal went 2-0 behind after just seven minutes that day against Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea.
And the Gunners went on to concede another four goals on what was a humiliating afternoon at Stamford Bridge.
It was Mourinho’s biggest Premier League victory as Chelsea boss, a sweet moment for the Portuguese manager, who was embroiled in a bitter rivalry with Wenger for many years.
He memory labelled Wenger “a specialist in failure” on one occasion after the Frenchman claimed that other Premier League managers are playing down their title chances because they “fear to fail”.
Mourinho responded: “If he is right and I am afraid of failure it is because I didn’t fail many times. Eight years without silverware, that’s failure.
“He’s a specialist in failure. If I do that in Chelsea, eight years, I leave and don’t come back.”
