Klopp: If I coached one more game, i'd choose the champions league night at anfield

During the FIFA World Cup, Liverpool's esteemed manager, Klopp, discussed his role within the Red Bull Group, his attachment to Liverpool, his assessment of Salah, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, among other topics, in an exclusive interview with ESPN. The following is the fourth part of that interview.

Okay. Let me ask you, one of the surprises for me this FIFA World Cup was the USA. I thought the USA was fantastic against Paraguay and equally good against Australia, just in a different way. I completely disregard the result against Turkey. What do you make of them right now, and what's their ceiling?

This is the best American team ever. Yes. Look where the players are playing. Look at these boys. You have a striker playing in France who played in England. You have a winger, Pulisic, who has played everywhere. Your entire backline plays or has played in the Premier League. The midfield plays or has played in the Premier League or Italy. You've never had a team like this before, so that's the first thing. And you have an outstanding coach like Pochettino. Yes, you have a good team. But the pressure will increase, and I don't want to curse it, but the pressure will increase. Now in all these countries, the USA team is very good. Canada, very good. Mexico, very good. They are all very important in the FIFA World Cup. Norway, very good. They changed eight, nine, or even ten starters and still played very good football. Belgium, fantastic. The last chance for the golden generation. Switzerland, very good. So many teams are excellent, and they can all win. Let's see who can make it through. The Netherlands, fantastic. I don't know, I can't tell you who will break through. Spain was great, but against Cape Verde, that was a surprise; they couldn't find a solution in that game. Cape Verde surprised all of us. So that's the FIFA World Cup. That's the best thing about the FIFA World Cup. Why should we know today, with five more rounds to play, who will win the FIFA World Cup? That would be so boring; if we already knew, we wouldn't need to watch the games. Now we watch the games, I talk about it, and you probably have to talk about it too. In the end, we will celebrate a well-deserved world champion, I'm very sure of that.

Absolutely. Let me ask you, we talked about the USA, let me ask you about Mexico. They're doing well in this tournament, playing at home, but there's a lot of fan excitement and emotion that goes with this team and builds as the tournament progresses. You know what it's like to play in front of passionate fans. How do you manage the emotions that come with that? Especially in a FIFA World Cup setting.

I'm not sure if there's a secret recipe for all of us. I watched the opening game in Mexico City, and it was fantastic. We were there because we had to be on TV, so we arrived five or six hours earlier, but the supporters were already there before us. People queued up to watch the game. It was wonderful. The green jerseys, incredible. Going there, a fantastic show, a great atmosphere. Everyone was so optimistic. A game is a game. I mean, South Africa didn't help themselves that day with the red card and all these things. They also advanced to the next round, which was their biggest success in history, very wonderful. Dealing with pressure is difficult if you don't have expectations for yourself. But I'm sure these Mexican players, they have expectations. If the expectation for Mexican players is that you have to win the FIFA World Cup, I would say, that's tricky. Because that might be beyond the expectations; the expectations are too high. Can they get to the next round, and the round after that? Yes, of course. As hosts, as long as they play at home. So, when the expectations are at roughly the same level, there is no pressure, only going all out. There is pressure, but positive pressure. If people expect you to win the FIFA World Cup, but you only have the strength to reach the semifinals, not to win the title, then you cannot cope. But I think Mexico looks very healthy at the moment. People are dreaming. And rightly so. The players are also dreaming. So, let's wait and see.

You talked about two of the three host nations. The third, Canada. Not as much pressure as the US and Mexico. How do they manage this FIFA World Cup for themselves, because of that?

I don't know. Jesse Marsch creates pressure, and that's good. He pushes them, and that's good. I know Jesse; I've played against him. So he will make sure they go all out. That's not a problem. I haven't been to Canada yet. But I know it's a hockey nation. So, let's see to what level they will rise when all the other exciting sports people come out and think this is a good alternative in the summer. It's also a very good team with a very good coach. This is world football. Every country, every country in the FIFA World Cup, has good players. I mean, some teams are already out. Scotland is out now. That was their golden generation. But they might not have made it to the next round. So good teams are no longer in this tournament. Tunisia, and perhaps Algeria (Note: Algeria advanced), I'm not 100% sure. But good teams are already gone from there. That means all the others that remain are a bit better, and that just shows the level of world football.

Okay. Let me ask a couple of short, maybe one or two-word answers. Considering the way football has developed, there are many different rules being introduced. Don't get me started on cooling breaks. But if you could make one change to world football, or one change you could make to the FIFA World Cup, what would it be?

I can't... I don't know. I haven't thought about that. That's not a quick answer question. Because unfortunately, my answers often go viral. If I say now, no, no. I haven't thought about it. I'm happy with football as it is now.

Okay. Then let me ask this. You have to pay to watch one player. You can't pick the usual suspects, like Messi or Mbappé.

Oh, I'm not allowed to name them. I don't have to pay to watch Messi, that's really cool. Then I get a hug. We all pay to watch Messi. I've watched so many good players. I prefer to watch teams. Messi is that... when you watch him, it's not entirely a one-man show, because Argentina plays very well. But if you watch Messi, it's a treat for him too. But usually, I like tactical interplay. Players playing together, things like that. So I don't know. I'm open, and I look forward to seeing the most wonderful games of my life in the future, because I've already seen some great ones.

Okay. Last question. I'm going to give you one more chance to coach. You can pick one FIFA World Cup knockout game, let's just call it a quarter-final. A Champions League final...

Is it coaching a previous game again, or in the future?

In the future, whatever you choose. Wait a second, I'm not done with my list. The first is a FIFA World Cup knockout game. We can call it a quarter-final, for the sake of discussion.

Quarter-final? You can take the quarter-final off the list. Who wants to play a quarter-final? Semi-final.

A Champions League final...

I've coached enough, lost all the finals, won once.

Or leading Liverpool again, in a Champions League game at Anfield on a Wednesday night.

I know how that feels. Let me say, whenever, if I have to coach one more game, or am allowed to coach one more game. Yes. A Champions League night at Anfield, that's super, super special. I'm not sure if coaching is the best experience. Maybe watching from the stands would even be a better experience. Maybe one day, I can go there, and nobody recognizes me, and I can just sit in the stands and enjoy it like everyone else. Then I would choose that.

I'm not sure there'll be a day when you show up at Anfield and nobody recognizes you.

Okay. We'll see.

Jürgen, thank you very much for your time.

You're welcome. Thank you.

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