Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said he is not preparing to celebrate any titles in the aftermath of Manchester City's guilty verdict. The Premier League club were found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges by an independent commission.
City have maintained their innocence and will appeal the verdict on financial rule breaches. Attention has now turned to a potential sanction, with relegation, a fine and points deductions all options. Others have also suggested that City should have the titles they won during the nine-year period stripped from them and retroactively awarded to their rivals. But Klopp does not appear to be interested, having admitted his admiration for City and former boss Pep Guardiola.
Klopp's stance on potential sanctions
Speaking in a Germany press conference, he said: "Of course I've heard about that, but I haven't given it much thought. I can only wait and see. I have big respect for Pep Guardiola and City's style of football; they played fantastic football and were a top class opponent for us.
"If any sanctions are handed out, I have nothing to do with it; I'll wait and see. I'm far from preparing for a title or anything like that. I'm absolutely fine with what we've achieved in Liverpool.
"We fought hard on the pitch. I can't say more about that because I don't know the details and I'm not interested in them."
A change from previous comments
Liverpool finished second to Man City on three occasions in the modern era, albeit only one of those falls within the period that the club were investigated for. Klopp's comments are somewhat of an about turn to his response from January 2025, where he vowed to celebrate should Liverpool be awarded the titles, while he has also previously joked that he would join an open top bus parade.
"We had this discussion when I left," he said. "I haven't spent a lot of time in Mallorca (where he moved after leaving Liverpool) because I am always flying around the place.
"But if it would happen, I told all the people who wanted to [come]: 'Just book a flight to Mallorca. I will buy the beer!' We'd have our own parade in my garden."
Guardiola's response
Elsewhere, Klopp's former rival Guardiola has broken his silence on the charges over recent days. Taking to social media, the former City boss said: "I want every single Man City fan to know I am here; more than ever. I am, always have been, always will, be behind my club, my owner, my chairman, Ferran [Soriano] the players, staff, Enzo [Maresca] and you, our unique supporters. Let me be clear: we will get through this together. I love you all."
