James Milner left Liverpool last summer and the Brighton midfielder has spoken about his relationship with former boss Jurgen Klopp, who he enjoyed working with. James Milner, a beloved figure in Liverpool football history, has recalled a heated disagreement with Jurgen Klopp that led to a memorable dressing room. Milner, who spent eight years at Liverpool and shared a strong bond with Klopp, admits their relationship was strained at one point.
Milner, now 37 and playing for Brighton, joined Liverpool in 2015 after leaving Manchester City. He won a number of titles during his time at Anfield, including the Premier League and the Champions League.
He made over 330 appearances during his eight-year spell at the club, spending seven-and-a-half years under Kloppand.
Despite the generally harmonious relationship, there were also tensions at times. Milner revealed one such incident on The High Performance Podcast. He recalled the heated half-time altercation that angered Klopp so much that he slammed his hands on the table. Despite that particular clash, Milner insists he has maintained a strong relationship with Klopp both on and off the pitch.
He was very good, he was open, Milner said. Not so for half time. We had a moment where he shared his thoughts and I shared mine, and I remember him slamming his hands on the table and yelling, “Shut up!” But Jürgen was great. We had a great relationship and we were great on the pitch as well.
Klopp has always expressed his admiration for Milnerand’s skills and experience. He wanted Milner to extend his stay at Liverpool beyond the summer. But as Milner revealed shortly before he left Liverpool, the club’s top brass had a different perspective.
In May, Milner stated that although Klopp wanted to keep him, the decision-makers at club number 039 were different. This made him believe that it was the right time to move on. He expressed his satisfaction with how things turned out and suggested he could return to play the opposition at Anfield in the future before moving to Premier League side Brighton.
Despite that intense period, both Klopp and Milner showed immense respect for each other and their contribution to Liverpool and Liverpool’s success. Their shared history is a testament to their commitment to the game and their desire to bring glory to their club.