I wish I could change one thing from Anfield spell

Jurgen Klopp surprised me in Liverpool meeting - I wish I could change one thing from Anfield spell

Peter Krawietz has opened up about Jurgen Klopp's decision to leave Liverpool in 2024

Peter Krawietz believes Jurgen Klopp has been vindicated in his decision to leave Liverpool after seeing the Reds win the Premier League title under Arne Slot last season. The long-serving German sent shockwaves through the footballing world when he announced in January 2024 that he would step down as manager at the end of the season after a trophy-laden nine years.

While Klopp would lead Liverpool to League Cup glory in his final season in charge, the Reds ultimately fell short in the Premier League title race as their challenge collapsed in the final weeks of the season.

But that did not stop Slot from winning the league in his first season in charge after succeeding Klopp, despite Federico Chiesa being the only addition to his inherited squad.

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Krawietz, who served as Klopp’s assistant at both Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool after first working together at Mainz 05, stepped down from his role with the Reds alongside the German and the rest of his backroom staff at the end of last season.

And having seen his former club win the title, he believes handing over the reins at that time was the best decision for everyone involved.

"We handed over a team that wasn't yet fully developed, but in which a lot of things were already right," he said. "A new coach could then be immediately successful with fresh energy and three, four, or five minor or major adjustments.

"It was always our wish that, ideally, that we would leave behind a structure that the club could then build upon. We believe we've achieved this, and we're extremely pleased as a result."

While Krawietz might have no regrets about his Liverpool exit, there is one thing he wishes he could change from his time with the Reds - the outcome of the 2018/19 Premier League title-race.

Liverpool, who went on to win the Champions League that season, finished the campaign with a whopping 97 points but lost out on the title to Man City by a solitary point with their only defeat coming at the Etihad.

Denied a goal in a 2-1 defeat to Pep Guardiola’s side by the latest of goal-line clearances from John Stones, in hindsight, it was the only thing stopping the Reds from recording an Invincibles season and being crowned both English and European champions.

"There was a season in which we got 97 points – which was one point too few in the end," Krawietz recalled. "Even today, I'd still love to have won that one."

Despite having worked alongside Klopp throughout the German’s career, Krawietz was just as shocked as anyone when he learned the former Liverpool manager had chosen to step down from his post.

But after being called into a meeting with Klopp, it did not take long for Krawietz to agree it was the right time to leave.

"Jurgen called me at the time and said I should come to see him,” he recalled. “He said that we needed to discuss something.

"When he told me what, I was initially surprised, but five minutes into our conversation, which ended up lasting perhaps two hours, I was no longer surprised.

"I completely understood all of Jurgen's explanations and arguments. They were logical, consistent, and also congruent with my own thinking.

"We had both taken a long look in the mirror, independently of each other, and in doing so, we came to the difficult conclusion: a four-week break would not be enough to face the challenges of the following season, in light of everything that this profession requires."

Klopp returned to football in January 2025 as he started a new role with the Red Bull group as their new Head of Global Football. The following March, Krawietz joined RB Leipzig as interim assistant manager until the end of the season.

The former Liverpool assistant was not surprised by the German’s return to football, admitting he would have only been caught off-guard if Klopp had returned to management.

"I would have only been surprised if he had asked me if we wanted to join a certain club in our usual roles," he told GOAL. "But I was almost certain that wouldn't happen.

"I always thought that he would do something completely different than before. Jurgen simply wanted a change from his coaching job.

"He's always been a very curious person, enthusiastic about other things, and, at Red Bull, he can think outside the box, experience new things, really get involved, isn't tied to one location, and is free of the daily public relations work. It's less intensive, but just as extensive.”

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