Mata returns to Spain squad
The 37-year-old was pinpointed as the ideal candidate for the role by the manager as well as Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon.
Having worked closely with and being hugely impressed by Edwards, who had served as the club’s technical director, Klopp has no apprehensive over the appointment.
“From my point of view, it’s a very natural decision,” the Reds boss said at Melwood on Friday. “When you have the right person at the club, then you have to use them in the right way and that’s what we’ve done since [I arrived] here.
“Working with Michael was full of faith, trust and all these things you need. Transfers go the same way in the end. At the start maybe it’s different because whoever brings the player to the table - whether it’s me, my assistant, Michael or the scouting department - then we have a lot of things to watch and talk about and, in the end, I will always have the final say.
Yaya Toure issues Man City apology
“Maybe that’s the most important thing for you to know. If something was wrong since I’ve been here or will go wrong while I’m here in the future with transfers, it’s my responsibility.
“But all the work we have to do until the player is here, you need a lot of really good people around and he is really good - he’s done a lot of different jobs at the club and it was absolutely natural and easy to make this decision. As I understand it, it’s only in England where it’s bigger than it is. All over the world, football clubs work like this - short ways, quick decisions and knowledge and everything you need to make the right decision at the right time. From now on it happens with Michael Edwards, our sporting director, involved.
“As a manager, I say ‘maybe we should go for this player’ and most of the talk has to do with agents and all that stuff. Why should I do this? We need a network of people for the big talks, the little talks. I’m involved in all the big talks, but not the small things.”
Winners of the world’s top 50 awards
Klopp highlighted that this move, along with every other major decision during his charge, is to ensure Liverpool has a strong foundation from which to work.
“This doesn’t mean there’s more time for me or anything. What we are trying to create is a structure for the future of LFC,” he said. “The problem, I would say, is this wonderful club has changed philosophy three or four times in the last 10-15 years with different managers coming in and changing everything - that’s the English way of doing things.
“We are trying to create a situation where everything around is perfect so, even if the manager changes, then the club still has a good base for the future.”
