Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes some clubs paid the price for not proving willing to “wait” for Unai Emery to deliver success.
The Reds boss takes his side to Emery’s Aston Villa on Monday in the penultimate game of his Liverpool career.
Emery has turned Villa around having replaced Steven Gerrard in October 2022, steering the club away from a relegation fight before leading them into Europe. Such has been his impact this season, the Spaniard was confirmed as one of the nominees for the Premier League’s Manager of the Year Award earlier this week.
While their Europa Conference League dreams were ended by a 6-2 aggregate defeat to Olympiakos on Thursday night, Villa are in command in the battle for the top four.
They lead fifth-placed Tottenham by seven points, albeit Spurs still have a game in hand.
Emery was won silverware at almost every club he’s managed and has rebuilt his reputation in the Premier League following his sacking at Arsenal only 18 months after replacing Arsene Wenger.
“He is one of the best we have in the business, said Klopp.
“Some clubs weren't ready to wait for it, but looking back, maybe these clubs would have made different decisions.
“I've known him for so long. He always had a clear idea. Won plenty of times with Sevilla.
"Really tricky with Villarreal. He always organises his team really well. The job he is doing is absolutely exceptional. We all know how difficult it is to qualify for the Champions League and that he will probably do that is absolutely exceptional."
Klopp also admitted that Liverpool’s outside chance of winning the Premier League title was not their “number one” priority in their final two games of the season.
"It's not number one every morning on the priority list [winning the title]. We can all read the table and see the situation.
"Do we expect them to lose? [Manchester] City has to lose three games. Difficult to see that, but you never know. Arsenal has to lose two games. Difficult. They both play before us, so let's talk on Monday if they both lose, but I do not expect that.
"We have the chance to move on to 80 points and like all things in life, you should never take that for granted. And for that we need points and to win at least one of the two games."
