Klopp: Manchester United Aren’t Using Kagawa Properly

With his Borussia Dortmund side winning back to back Bundesliga titles and in this season’s Champions League final, Jurgen Klopp is currently the toast of the footballing world.

Dortmund’s humbling of Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid in the semi final of European football’s premier competition was the final confirmation, if there had been any doubts before, that Klopp’s side were the real deal.

There should have been no doubts though, this isn’t Dortmund’s first season in the spotlight. They pipped Bayern Munich to the title in 2010 and unlike flash in the pan Wolfsburg, repeated the feat in 2011.

Managers from all over Europe have been paying attention and inevitably came knocking.

Sahin stopped off in Madrid and on Merseyside before heading back to the Ruhr, Lucas Barrios chose the financial clout of China and this season Mario Goetze, and possibly Robert Lewandowski, have allowed the lure of FC Hollywood or Bayern Munich to me and you to turn their heads.

Last summer Sir Alex Ferguson also sat up and took notice of the then German champions and watched them dismantle Bayern Munich in the German cup final before deciding to snap up playmaker Shinji Kagawa.

With his first season at Old Trafford done, it’s fair to say that it has been a success. As the season wore on he grew into his role in the team and ended the term as a champion, the 3rd time in 3 seasons.

But former manager Klopp isn’t impressed with the role he has been given at Old Trafford as he told The Guardian:

“Shinji Kagawa is one of the best players in the world and he now plays 20 minutes at Manchester United – on the left wing! My heart breaks. Really, I have tears in my eyes. Central midfield is Shinji’s best role. He’s an offensive midfielder with one of the best noses for goal I ever saw.

This is a sentiment that has been echoed by a number of fans, but I think this analysis applies largely to the early part of the season. As the season wore on Shinji found himself playing (and scoring) more.

It is thought that if Rooney gets his way and leaves the club then United have a perfect replacement in Kagawa.

So Klopp can rest easy knowing that Kagawa is in good hands, and next season he will see ‘one of the best players in the world’ in full flow.