Jose Mourinho: ‘Jurgen Klopp is one of the top managers in Europe’

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has described his Liverpool counterpart Jurgen Klopp as one of the “top managers” in Europe.

Klopp succeeded Brendan Rodgers at Anfield earlier this month after spending seven years in charge of Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund.

The German coach, who has beaten Mourinho twice before in the Champions League, will hunt for his first Premier League victory when Liverpool go head to head with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

When asked by reporters about his relationship with Klopp, Mourinho said: “Liverpool are a good team. They had a very good manager. Now they have a very good new manager.

“Jurgen is not a close friend because football doesn’t normally allow that, but I like him a lot and we have a good relationship. As a manager his work speaks. I consider him one of the top managers in Europe.”