Jurgen Klopp says he is not scared of being fired after a string of Premier League casualties, but admits that struggling Liverpool must deliver as he prepares to face managerless Chelsea.
Liverpool, who fell just short of an unprecedented quadruple last season, are now eight points behind the top four following Saturday’s 4-1 defeat to defending champions Manchester City.
Klopp’s side travels to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday after the sacking of Graham Potter over the weekend, just hours after Leicester parted ways with Brendan Rodgers.
Antonio Conte departed Tottenham last week “by mutual consent.” This season has seen 13 management changes in the English Premier League, a new high.
“I think the elephant in the room is probably why I am still sitting here in this crazy world,” Klopp said at his pre-match press conference on Monday. “Last man standing.”
The German acknowledged that the current season had been a disappointment for the club, which is accustomed to winning trophies.
“I’m aware of the fact that I’m sitting here because of the past and not because of what we did this season,” said Klopp. “If this was my first season it would be slightly different.”
But he said he was not fearful over the future, even though his team, eighth in the table, face an uphill task to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
“I don’t think that Graham was afraid but there’s no need to be afraid,” he said. “I’m here to deliver. I’m not here as a talisman or for murals on a house wall.
“I’m here to deliver. I know that 100 percent. There’s nothing else in my mind.”
Klopp, 55, who has been Liverpool manager since 2015, reiterated his commitment to the club.
“I’m fully in,” he said. “There’s no doubt about that. We have to sort it. We cannot just continue playing like we do from time to time, not always, thank God, but from time to time and that’s not allowed really.
“I’m really disappointed about us that we do these kinds of things but it has happened so now we have to find a way out and that’s what we are constantly working on.”
