Borussia Dortmund chief: ‘I tried to bring back Jurgen Klopp’

Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has revealed that he tried to bring Jurgen Klopp back from Liverpool in 2018.

The German boss managed Dortmund between 2008 and 2015, winning two Bundesliga titles and successfully turning the team into one of the most dangerous in Europe.

Since leaving Dortmund, Klopp has effectively done something similar with Liverpool, winning the club’s sixth European crown by beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the Champions League final in May.

Speaking on the subject of Klopp in his new book, ‘REAL LOVE. A life with BVB’, the Dortmund CEO said: “I knew that Jurgen would [decline], that he will fulfil his contract in Liverpool.

“Jurgen has always fulfilled his contracts, but if you want to go new ways and we had to break new ground at BVB, then at least I had to ask Jurgen if he could possibly imagine that.

“I did not expect that at all, but I would not have forgiven myself for not asking him at that moment.”

Having guided Liverpool to their first European triumph since 2005, Klopp now looks on course to claim the club’s first league title in 30 years, with the Reds eight points clear of Manchester City after eight fixtures.

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Klopp, whose contract at Anfield expires in 2022, has previously spoken of how he would consider leaving Liverpool if he won the Premier League title.