Jurgen Klopp Raves About MLS Quality While New York Red Bulls Face Playoff Elimination
During his tenure guiding Liverpool FC to triumph in the English Premier League and UEFA Champions League, Jürgen Klopp gained invaluable experience witnessing elite-level soccer at its finest.
After transitioning from coaching to his current position as head of global soccer for Red Bull Football Group, he has acquired fresh insights while supervising the organization's six teams worldwide, recently immersing himself with the New York Red Bulls before their 3–2 defeat to New York City FC.
Despite his limited exposure to MLS, he expressed enthusiastic admiration this weekend as the Hudson River Derby commanded attention.
"I can assure you, the standard is exceptionally high. Skilled players, abundant talent, fierce intensity. All the elements you desire when experiencing it live in the stadium or watching on television, I believe [MLS] has established its position and now it's time to build upon it," Klopp expressed enthusiastically.
"I'm absolutely certain that in five years, we [will] discuss this completely differently. I'm confident it will continue expanding exponentially. The young players emerging, beginning their soccer journey earlier, training harder, and improving continuously. Clearly, the facilities where they can play and develop are also advancing."
The league has successfully attracted exceptional world-class talent recently, with Inter Miami securing eight-time Ballon d'Or champion Lionel Messi, along with Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul. Simultaneously, LAFC established an MLS benchmark for incoming transfer expenditures with a $26 million investment in South Korean sensation Son Heung-min from Tottenham Hotspur.
Son's signing represented the third occasion within the past year that MLS shattered its transfer milestone, following FC Cincinnati's $16.2 million acquisition of Kévin Denkey and Atlanta United's $22 million purchase of Emmanuel Latte Lath. Through substantial investments and ambitious squad construction, MLS standards have consistently elevated in preparation for the 2026 World Cup, taking place across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Regarding the Red Bulls, they have secured promising talents Emil Forsberg and former FC Bayern Munich forward Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting, who have provided bright moments with 11 and 16 goals respectively during an otherwise underwhelming campaign for the 2024 Eastern Conference champions.
"I don't believe we executed the season we envisioned, but that's acceptable, these things occur, yet we remain positioned to compete for it," Klopp commented on the Red Bulls' performance. "And that's precisely the atmosphere I detected. That's the spirit. ... What I witnessed now provides me with genuine optimism."
Although the defeat against New York City FC probably concludes the Red Bulls' chances of maintaining their MLS Cup Playoff appearance beyond its current 15-year streak, the team will persist in their efforts until mathematical elimination with two matches left.