Curtis Jones issues passionate response to claims he ‘disrespected’ Jurgen Klopp with press conference comments

Curtis Jones has responded to claims that he disrespected Jurgen Klopp with comments made during a press conference.

Back in 2019, local boy Jones was handed his senior Liverpool debut by Klopp after being selected for an FA Cup tie against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Since then, under the guidance of the German, Jones has so far made 133 appearances across all competitions for the Reds, scoring 16 goals.

With Klopp no longer the Liverpool boss, Jones recently spoke about the impact new head coach Arne Slot has had on him and the team.

He told reporters during the club’s pre-season tour of the United States: “This is the happiest I have been. Arne is amazing. It is probably the happiest I have been. In terms of a style of play, it suits us and the lads we have. It is a clear plan. He is fully involved in the training, coaches us a lot, he’s big on the finer details.

“I feel more in the past, it was like a rush. We got the ball back. It was a bit too direct I’d say. Arne wants us to get the ball down and completely kill teams.”

Getty

He added: “He’s got a certain way of playing and he knows it’s going to take a little bit of time as it’s a big change, but he and his staff are chilled about it. They know there is quality out there and we still have lads coming back.”

On the back of his comments, a number of fans accused Jones of disrespecting Klopp.

However, speaking after Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Arsenal on Wednesday night, the 23-year-old said to Redmen TV: “The principles are always the same; we want to work hard, press, dominate teams.

“That’s what I think came across a little bit wrong [which is why] I’d like to say now on this, I’ve seen things that it seemed like I was disrespectful in a way. But Jurgen knows I’d never be that kid. He knows how much I love him, that I love all of his staff.”

Getty

Jones continued: “It was just me saying that how I’m going to play now is a little bit of a change. He’s given me the platform and belief in myself to know I’m a kid who can step up as well, I’m not just a kid who’s a squad lad, I can really be counted on.”