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Klopp happy Lijnders delaying manager plans to stick with Liverpool

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is delighted with assistant coach Pep Lijnders agreeing to extend his deal to 2026.

Klopp was asked about Lijnders' decision to delay his ambitions to become a manager himself.

He said, "I know Pep will be an outstanding manager in future, but what we really enjoy is the work together... we bought fully in this project. That's it.

"He's not even 40 yet, that's obviously a long time - after all these things - to be by yourself. In the moment we all enjoy the work here together, his own ambitions will never stop and I will not stop it.

"It's like this; I am, meanwhile, a pretty experienced elder generation manager, [it's] crazy to say that, but it's the truth.

"So, my big strength [is] that I really bring in really good people and then let them flourish. It doesn't mean I tell them all the time: 'No, no, no, no... we did it in the past like this.'

"No, I listen. I listen because they are much closer with the managers that do their badges at the moment.

"It's really interesting what they tell you now and not what I could tell them all the time what we did in the past, and all these kinds of things.

"Life is progress and you have to keep up with all the developments around you, that's what we do.

"They keep me on track and I keep them calm and in line. Obviously, I can help as well a little bit, but we have now an agreement for another while and everybody is really happy about it. We don't hold anybody back.

"It's better being first-team coach with massive influence, and all these kinds of things, in a world-class club or going out there, being in the wrong club, being the main man and losing more often than not.

"We are smart enough to know that this situation is not... you cannot take it for granted.

"[The] club gave us an opportunity to build a really good football team, now we have it, now let's try to be as successful as possible."

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