Mikel Arteta has praised Jurgen Klopp and says the Liverpool manager has ‘made the league better and every manager better’.
Klopp has announced that he will step down from his role as Liverpool manager at the end of the season, following nine decorated years on Merseyside that has seen the German win seven trophies.
Premier League managers have been reacting to Friday’s news and Arteta has joined in the praise for Klopp, insisting he has had a massive impact on the improvement of English football.
“He [Klopp] has made this league much better,’ Arteta said at his pre-match press conference, ahead of facing Nottingham Forest.
“First of all the person, character and charisma. He made a big contribution for the growth of this league and I love the way he did it. If you see the emotion he put into it you have to respect him and say thank you.
“He made the league better and every manager better. We put our lives into this job and so much energy.
“Sometimes you feel you don’t have it any more and that’s even as a player. You invest so much. It’s extremely demanding.
“I love it and still have lots of energy. I love what I do. I love every minute and have joy waking up every morning to drive to Colney to make sure we are better for the next day. That’s what drives me.”