Jurgen Klopp couldn’t believe Scott Parker was sacked by Bournemouth after losing 9-0 to his side Liverpool, suggesting ‘the right owners’ wouldn’t have made such a move.
Saturday’s match at Anfield equaled the record for the biggest defeat in Premier League history, with Bournemouth completely outclassed.
It was a third straight loss for the newly promoted side, who had also been comfortably beaten by Manchester City and Arsenal without scoring.
A statement from Bournemouth confirming Parker’s departure on Tuesday appeared to suggest his dismissal was not based solely on results, as it said the head coach needed to be “aligned with our strategy to run the club sustainably”.
“We also have to show trust and respect for each other,” he added.
Parker had lamented Bournemouth’s lack of transfer activity since promotion from the Championship and even suggested that Liverpool’s loss had come as no surprise and could be repeated without action in the market.
Either way, Klopp felt the call was ‘really tough’, calling it ‘unbelievable’ as he was asked about Parker during a press conference later on Tuesday.
“When I heard it today, that’s when you realize how important rights holders are,” he said.
“We all know there are different systems in the Premier League, how clubs are run.
“Some rules don’t allow them to do exactly what they want. If they could stretch their resources, it would be strange – they could do anything, because they belong to countries.
“Then other clubs that have other structures, like us or Arsenal or whoever, and then there are clubs like Bournemouth. You’ve seen three teams come up, Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth.
“Nottingham spend like…they spend. Fulham do stuff. And I don’t remember Bournemouth doing a lot of it.
“It’s obviously difficult, if you come from the Championship and come to the Premier League. It’s not easy, so I felt for Scott.
“It’s not that his team aren’t good enough, not at all. I don’t know where you get that idea if the first four games give you Arsenal, City and Liverpool.
“If you have nervous owners, it’s like a new manager being put in: ‘Let’s see how he can do it.’
“That’s why I was very surprised, very surprised. I think Scott is an exceptional manager, to be honest – which he did with Fulham, in his first job, and now Bournemouth, in the Championship, while getting up.
“It’s an outstanding and really tough achievement, and then you get four games and three of them are Arsenal, City and Liverpool, and your owner tells you ‘see you later’. It’s really tough.”
That’s not to say Klopp and Liverpool are always on the same page, as he explained that there are also disagreements at times over the club’s approach to Anfield, even though he’s now used to how they operate.
When asked if he had been supported, Klopp replied: “This summer? What does it mean, ‘supported’?
“What I don’t like is that if I say ‘I’m not sure’ it makes a big deal out of it, but I also realized it’s always been like that. It’s always been easy ? Nope.”
He added: “Let me put it like this: once in a while I would like to risk a little more, but I don’t decide that. We have a great team, and we will really try to make the most of it. this. season.”
