Jurgen Klopp blasts Chelsea owners amid pursuit of Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca

Without naming names, Jurgen Klopp has delivered a final parting shot at Chelsea over the attitude towards managers that led them to pursue Leicester City’s Enzo Maresca.

As things stand, the Foxes look set to lose the Italian tactician to their London rivals on their return to the Premier League – a far from ideal situation. A formal approach was made on Monday, with talks between the two sides progressing since then.

When it all started eight days ago, it became the latest branch in a highly active ‘silly season’ as Premier League clubs scramble to appoint managers. This probably started in January when Klopp made the shock announcement that he would be leaving Liverpool this month.

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As he neared the end of his time at Anfield this month, the German began taking an unfiltered approach to his media duties. This continued when he spoke at a final farewell event in Liverpool on Tuesday night as, without explicitly mentioning Chelsea by name, he appeared to criticize the Blues for their management of managers in recent years – compared to those who allowed him a mandate of nine tears.

“We should be very happy that we have these owners and not guys who bought clubs in London and stuff,” Klopp said. “I wouldn’t have survived a year at Liverpool (with them in charge). ‘Great development but not good enough, fire him!'” A year later: “Fire him”, then finally playing football where people think they might come back and they fire the manager anyway.”

With the City boss looking set to be the next man to walk into Stamford Bridge, that would make the 44-year-old the sixth man in the Blues dugout since American owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took over from Roman Abramovich. Four of those were permanent appointments, while the club spent more than £1 billion on transfer fees.

Before Maresca, Mauricio Pochettino entered the scene – that was just a year ago, and he had already been relieved of his duties. The Argentine had mixed results before arriving at Wembley Stadium in the Carabao Cup final and FA Cup semi-finals, as well as ending the season with 10 wins from 15 league games to finish sixth.

In a first sign of change, media reports suggest the London club will offer Maresca a five-year contract as a show of solidarity in their next choice.

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