'He's Seen Like A Dad': Curtis Jones Reveals Special Bond With Former Liverpool Boss Jurgen Klopp
Jones shares a special bond with former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp, seeing him as a father figure. Klopp's 2024 departure left Jones conflicted but proud of his achievements.
Curtis Jones' journey from Liverpool's academy to the first team has been one of persistence, growth, and trust—a journey intertwined with the presence and influence of Jürgen Klopp.
The relationship between the young Scouser and the charismatic German manager is a story of mutual respect, shared values, and long-term vision: one that runs deeper than tactics or team sheets.
In a squad packed with world-class midfielders—Thiago, Fabinho, Henderson, and Wijnaldum among others—Jones had to adapt. Klopp began moulding him into a more disciplined, two-way midfielder.
But more importantly, Jones has spoken often of how Klopp backed him when others doubted him, how the manager's honesty and warmth made it easy for him to grow without fear.
So, when Klopp announced his exit from Liverpool in the summer of 2024, Jones was left perplexed and conflicted, to say the least.
Speaking exclusively to JioHotstar, Curtis Jones said, 'Yeah, emotions were actually mixed…But yet, I feel that there comes a time in life where family and your kids—and for Jürgen and his staff, of course, they've got their grandkids as well—that there's more to life."
'For Jürgen, who's obviously been in the game for so many years—one, of course, he's played in, and two, he's been at Dortmund and the stuff he did there—and then he came in here when the team wasn't as great, and he changed the whole thing, he flipped it over. And then he leaves here as the man that he is now, and how much he's loved of us—as you know, the players—and then from the fans as well, and the city, of how he's seen," he added.
'He's seen like a dad."
But, Jones is of the belief that Klopp had no regrets whilst departing from Anfield, for he had achieved 'everything he wanted to.'
'I feel that he had achieved everything that he wanted to."
You know, he came in here, and his first thing was, 'I want to build a team that is ready to go and compete every single week,' and that's what he's done. And then he made the team that's, 'Okay, we compete every week, but now we have to go and win.' And that's what we started to go and do.
'He came in, he changed the team, he started to win, he then achieved things, and then he helped the youth as well. You know, you can't ask for any more."
Watch the full-length interview of Jones, streaming live on JioHotstar, August 8th at 8 PM, and catch all the action from the Premier League 2025-26 season, August 16 onwards, LIVE & Exclusive on Star Sports Network and JioHotstar.
First Published:
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
29 minutes ago
- News18
Vaibhav Suryavanshi Apologises After Nearly Injuring Camera Crew With a Blistering Shot
Last Updated: In a video shared by Rajasthan Royals on X, Suryavanshi can be seen playing a powerful shot which nearly sends the camera crew to the hospital. After making headlines for his super show with the bat in the 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Rajasthan Royals, 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi impressed with his batting performances in the five youth ODIs played against England last month. In those five matches, the left-handed batter from Bihar, with the help of one century (143) and one fifty (86), amassed a total of 355 runs. The 14-year-old cricketer will next play for India U-19 in the three youth ODIs and two youth Tests against Australia next month in Australia. Ahead of the Australia tour, Suryavanshi is training with his IPL team, Rajasthan Royals, and in a video shared by RR on X, Suryavanshi can be seen playing a shot which nearly sends the camera crew to the hospital. Here's the video: In the viral clip, Suryavanshi can also be seen apologising by saying 'Sorry sorry." Suryavanshi in IPL 2025 14-year-old Suryavanshi was signed for Rs 1.10 crore by the inaugural edition winners in the IPL 2025 mega auction and he made his debut against Lucknow Super Giants at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on April 19. In his first-ever IPL match, Suryavanshi opened his account by hitting Shardul Thakur for a first-ball six. In his third IPL match for RR against Gujarat Titans on April 28, Suryavanshi opened the innings in 210-run chase and helped the Men in Pink win the match by 8 wickets. During his stay at the crease against Shubman Gill-led side, Suryavanshi scored century in just 35 balls. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
44 minutes ago
- News18
No Praggnanandhaa Or Gukesh For Chennai Grand Masters? Here's Why
Last Updated: The Chennai Grand Masters starts Wednesday with stars like Arjun Erigaisi and Vidit Gujrathi. Despite D Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa R's absence, it promises a record prize pool. The third edition of the Chennai Grand Masters is all set to get underway on Wednesday, reaffirming its status as one of the most significant classical chess tournaments held in India. With a top-tier field featuring stars like Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi, Anish Giri, and Jorden van Foreest, and a promising Challengers section spotlighting the country's emerging talent, the tournament is increasingly becoming a cornerstone of India's chess calendar. Running from August 7 to 15, this year's edition promises to be bigger and bolder, with an enhanced format, a star-studded field, and a record prize pool of ₹1 crore. For the first time in the tournament's history, both the Masters and Challengers sections will feature nine rounds of classical round-robin chess — a step up from the seven-round structure used in previous editions. Yet, the absence of two of India's brightest stars — reigning World Champion D Gukesh and the prodigious Praggnanandhaa R — has sparked debate, especially given the tournament's symbolic importance in Chennai, the spiritual home of Indian chess. No Gukesh or Pragg — and why that matters Tournament Director and Grandmaster Srinath Narayanan addressed the matter with refreshing candour, explaining that scheduling clashes were unavoidable this year. 'Ideally, we would have loved to have Gukesh and Pragg playing. But this year, we had to clash our event with the Grand Chess Tour because the calendar was insanely full. We simply didn't get any free dates," Srinath said. 'But in the future, whenever they are available, we would certainly love to have them. And hopefully, we can schedule it at a time when it doesn't clash with another major event." Gukesh, riding high after his historic World Championship win earlier this year, is set to compete at the St. Louis Rapid and Blitz from August 10 to 15 — a key leg of the Grand Chess Tour. Praggnanandhaa, too, finds himself in the middle of a packed international season, leaving little room for domestic appearances. Chennai Grand Masters' growing stature Despite the high-profile absences, the Chennai Grand Masters continues to carve a meaningful space in the chess world. Srinath underlined the tournament's growing role in nurturing Indian talent — and helping launch them onto the global stage. 'Over the last two years, we have already seen a tradition where a young, talented player goes on to get world-class recognition after winning here," he said. 'It happened with Gukesh in 2023, and with Aravindh Chithambaram last year. We hope to keep unearthing more talents." view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Klopp vs Slot: Liverpool's Curtis Jones reveals how their styles differ
Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones has opened up in detail about his experiences working under two vastly different but highly respected managers, Jurgen Klopp, who recently ended a transformative tenure at Anfield, and Arne Slot, the Dutch coach tasked with continuing Liverpool's evolution. Speaking exclusively to JioHotstar, Jones reflected on how both men influenced his development, their unique styles, and how Liverpool has adapted through this managerial transition, a shift that has already yielded silverware with the 2024/25 Premier League title under Slot. Jurgen Klopp: Emotional Leadership, Trust Earned Over Time Jones spoke glowingly about Klopp's impact on his career, describing the late stages of the German's time at Liverpool as the point when he finally earned the manager's full trust. 'I feel that the season when he left… I had just gained his full trust,' said Jones, noting that he had been 'chipping away' for years to break into the first team consistently. Klopp's management was rooted in emotional connection, long-term vision, and a deep sense of mutual respect. 'He's seen like a dad,' Jones said, highlighting how Klopp's influence went beyond football, he shaped the culture of the club and the players' mentality. He built a team to compete every week, then evolved it into one that wins consistently. For Jones, Klopp wasn't just a manager but a figure who understood the local talent, helped youth integrate, and instilled a mindset of hard work and belief. 'Like it or not, I show every day that I'm the best,' he said, echoing a confidence that Klopp helped nurture in him. Arne Slot: Tactical Flexibility, Faster Adaptation The arrival of Arne Slot marked a new chapter, one that demanded quick learning, tactical versatility, and a slightly different approach to man-management. And Curtis Jones embraced it from day one. Given six weeks off after Klopp's departure, Jones voluntarily returned after four. 'I felt everybody had a fresh slate… the sooner I'm back, the more time I get to spend with him,' Jones said. It was a strategic move, and it paid off. Under Slot, Liverpool has adopted a more possession-based style, encouraging players to 'take more risks' and control games with the ball. Jones believes this approach suits him more. 'I'm a lad who always wants to take a risk,' he explained. Slot's system allows him to use his technical ability to dictate tempo, evade pressure, and retain control. Notably, Jones highlighted how Slot has entrusted him with playing in multiple roles, from striker to fullback to midfield anchor. 'Although I want to play as a 10 or an 8, I feel that it shows how much he trusts me,' he said. Slot's adaptability has also resonated with the team. Jones pointed out that within a few weeks, Liverpool had already adjusted to his style. 'Clever management,' he called it, but added that real footballers should be able to adapt: 'If you're a footballer, you can play anywhere.' While both managers share the same hunger to win and a demand for intensity, the core of their styles differs: Klopp builds trust over time, rewards emotional investment, and maintains strong individual bonds. His legacy was a team that matured into relentless winners. Slot, on the other hand, has introduced fluidity, modern pressing structures, and a more risk-tolerant possession game, which Jones sees as an ideal fit for his evolving role. Despite the changes, Jones feels both have cultivated a winning culture. 'We've got a young team full of winners,' he declared, describing the new era as 'exciting times.' Watch the interview, streaming live on JioHotstar, August 8th at 8 PM.
