Jose Mourinho sacked: Jurgen Klopp offers his support and still respects former Manchester United manager

Mourinho was sacked as United manager following their 3-1 defeat against Liverpool

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has offered his support to Jose Mourinho after he was sacked by Manchester United on Tuesday morning.

Mourinho was told he is no longer wanted at Old Trafford following United’s 3-1 derby defeat against Liverpool at the weekend, which leaves them 19 points away from Klopp’s side at the top of the Premier League.

The Portuguese manager’s time came at Old Trafford came to an abrupt end after a poor start to the season and failing to get the best out of a talented group of players.

Klopp, speaking ahead of Liverpool’s clash with Wolverhampton Wanders on Friday, said he feels Mourinho had the difficult, unfair task of defending his managerial ability despite a large amount of success behind him.

“He’s a very competitive guy. Very ambitious. Really competitive. He has all my respect,” he said.

“He’s unbelievably successful and I can imagine the last few months were not a joy for nobody, especially not him. It’s not nice when you have to face these questions every day but nobody can take away all the things he has won.

“I wish he has that in his mind and not other things that have happened in the last few months. He is an outstanding manager.”

Jose Mourinho is pictured leaving the Lowry Hotel in Manchester (Reuters)

The German manager is a keen admirer of the former Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Porto manager and said ahead of last week’s meeting he believes Mourinho is the ‘most successful manager in the world’.

“Manchester United never ever show a lack of ambition. Mourinho is the most successful manager in the world and that’s how it is,” he said.

On Tuesday morning Manchester United released a statement confirming Mourinho’s departure. “Manchester United announces that manager Jose Mourinho has left the club with immediate effect. The club would like to thank Jose for his work during his time at Manchester United and to wish him success in the future.”

The club have not announced who will be taking over from Mourinho with former midfielder Micheal Carrick seen as the ideal candidate to take charge on a short-term basis. A caretaker manager will be announced soon with a permanent manager set to be confirmed a the end of the season.

“A new caretaker manager will be appointed until the end of the current season, while the club conducts a thorough recruitment process for a new, full-time manager.”