Jurgen Klopp's work as head of global football for Red Bull GmbH brought him to Brazil on Tuesday.
The former Liverpool manager, who has been in his current role since New Year's Day, traveled to Palmeiras to see how Red Bull Bragantino earned a 0-0 draw in the Campeonato Paulista.
Klopp's presence in Sao Paulo's Allianz Parque received a lot of attention and he was even a subject of conversation in the post-game press conference of Palmeiras boss Abel Ferreira.
Ferreira has won 10 trophies with Palmeiras since he first took the lead over the club in October 2020. His side, however, finished six points behind Champions Botafogo in the most recent edition of Carioca Series A.
In response to criticism, Ferreira focused on Klopp by mocking the trophy record of Tuesday's special guest.
Ferreira said to reporters: 'Today there was a Lord here called Klopp, who won fewer titles in Liverpool in eight years than my coaching staff here at Palmeiras. So don't come and talk to me about hungry titles. '
Klopp won eight trophies in almost nine seasons with Liverpool, although he only delivered one Premier League title in that period before he went in May last year.
His decision to work for Red Bull – whose portfolio of clubs also includes RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg, New York Red Bulls and Paris FC – has been criticized by some parts of the football community.
Many fans of Borussia Dortmund, where Klopp previously had the legendary status, turned against their former king after his decision to join Leipzig.
Leipzig is largely unpopular in Germany because of their supposed contempt for the '50 +1 'property model of the country, which gives fans more control.
Klopp himself did indeed say in 2022: “I know how much the idea of Red Bull is criticized by traditionalists, and I am also one of them.”
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