Curtis Jones, midfielder of Liverpool, was full of praise for his former manager Jürgen Klopp, but also revealed the numerous disagreements in a relationship that was “not always easy”.
Jones received his senior debut as a 17-year-old from Klopp in January 2019. The graduate of the Liverpool Academy appeared during the legendary term of the German 132 senior appearances for the Reds and collected the winning medals in the Premier League, in FA Cup and in the Carabao Cup.
However, it was not a very happy association.
The first indications of the tension were exposed during the previous season when Jones Klopp’s successor to Arne Slot saw “amazing”. “It is probably the happiest thing I was in a style of play that suits me,” he added.
Jones doubled his praise for the Dutch coach and his football methods and tried to clarify his relationship with Klopp. “I owe him so much,” said the English international The athlete this week. “Jürgen changed me from a boy to a man. There were times when I thought I would need a loan magic to get more playing time, but he kept me in the team.
“It was not always so easy that I wanted it to myself because I am a boy who wants to play. Jürgen let me understand the game much more because I was a child at the academy who scored all the time and didn’t really have to run. I could do everything I wanted.
“The next step was to keep this ability, but to change the stuff like the ball and change the work from the ball. I was not always the best child, but I was not arrogant or cocky. I just wanted the best for myself. He was the man who understood me so much.”
Liverpool is preparing for a meeting with Newcastle United in Wembley on Sunday. Jones had to miss the last year last year by injuries, but was expressly overlooked for the 2022 showpiece against Chelsea. “I had to watch a protective boot last year and then a few years earlier I was excluded from the squad for some reason,” recalled Jones. “I wasn’t happy, but I had to respect Jürgen’s decisions.”
The 24-year-old, who credited his continued improvement in the newly discovered fatherhood, was also interested in greeting the influence of the slot. “This season I did it, played a good game for the game,” Jones beamed. “It comes with the trust of the employees who came in. They see how well I train every day. I am glad that I have won their trust.”