Arsene Wenger gives his take on Jurgen Klopp leaving Liverpool at the end of the season

Arsene Wenger has reacted to Jurgen Klopp's decision to step down as Liverpool manager at the end of the season.

Last month, Klopp took the football world by surprise when he announced that he will leave current Premier League leaders Liverpool after a trophy-laden nine-year spell.

The 56-year-old, who has lifted the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Club World Cup during his time at Anfield, cited fatigue as a reason behind the move.

“I can understand that it’s a shock for a lot of people in this moment, when you hear it for the first time, but obviously I can explain it – or at least try to explain it," he said.

“It is that I am, how can I say it, running out of energy. I have no problem now, obviously, I knew it already for longer that I will have to announce it at one point, but I am absolutely fine now."

He added: "I know that I cannot do the job again and again and again and again."

Plenty of people have had their say on Klopp's decision, including former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who managed 828 Premier League matches during a 22-year stay in North London.

Speaking to beIN Sports during their Champions League coverage on Wednesday night, the Frenchman said he never felt the tiredness that Klopp is currently feeling, but respects his decision.

When asked why it is more stressful now that it was during his era, Wenger replied: "It is not more stressful. First of all, you need to know the situation of a human being. 'Does that person miss having a normal life?'

"I dedicated my life just to football. I didn't miss the normal life and only discovered there was a normal life when I stopped."

After being asked if he ever felt like Klopp during his career, Wenger responded: "I never felt like that. I respect what he did. I thought he was very good in the press conference."

"I miss the intensity of this life"

Arsene Wenger says that he never felt the tiredness that Jurgen Klopp currently feels, but respects the decision he has made.#beINUCL #AFC #LFC pic.twitter.com/ebZsyuvM9f

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) February 21, 2024

The 74-year-old added: "There's a chance he will miss it. And regret it. When you miss it, it starts with regret."

BeIN Sports host Richard Keys would later ask Wenger if he regretted not retiring earlier in his managerial career.

"No. I would say I miss the intensity of this life," he said. "I was made to experience that because football was, and still is, so important to me. It looked normal to me. I could live with the pressure. The cardiologist would maybe say no to that!"