Liverpool's former assistant manager Zeljko Buvac has sensationally claimed he is behind the club's recent success despite his bitter split from Jurgen Klopp after 17 years working together.
The 59-year-old parted company with Liverpool under strange circumstances in April 2018 as the Reds were heading towards their first Champions League final under Klopp.
Since then the Reds have gone on to win a sixth European Cup, as well as the Club World Cup and a first league title in 30 years.
But despite ending their long wait to be crowned domestic champions, Buvac admits he hasn't even messaged Klopp to congratulate him on the achievement.
"I didn't," Buvac told Nobel. "I was happy for Liverpool, for the fans, for the players. But I didn't."
That makes it seem there is some credence in a supposed rift between Klopp and his old no.2 which to this day appears as if it may have had a lasting impact on their relationship.
At the time, "personal reasons" were attributed to Buvac's departure, which was initially thought to be a short-term arrangement.
Since then, rumours have circulated suggesting Buvac was interviewed about the Arsenal manager's job, which is purported to have caused the row with Klopp, from whom he is said to have kept it secret.
Both parties have moved on in the intervening years, with Buvac now working as Dynamo Moscow's sporting director.
But it brought to an end their lengthy partnership which saw Buvac follow Klopp from Mainz, to Borussia Dortmund before pitching up at Anfield.
Reflecting on his time on Merseyside, Buvac said: "I did the job of a manager, except speaking in public and giving interviews. Apart from that, I had all the functions and tried to influence my team as much as I could to help them succeed."
In perhaps a thinly-veiled swipe at Klopp, he added: "But I didn't need that kind of attention."
Liverpool moved quickly to replace Buvac the following summer, shortly after they had lost 3-1 to Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
What are your thoughts on Klopp's current no.2 Pep Lijnders? Have your say below.
Pep Lijnders, 37, was brought back to the club at Klopp's request, and is considered a potential candidate to succeed his superior when he does eventually step aside.
As for Buvac, he insists his ambitions have changed, whilst claiming he has had plenty of offers to get back in the dugout.
"I don't want to be a manager now," Buvac continued. "If Barcelona calls me then of course I'll think about it but otherwise no.
"You say I'm here just to stay occupied and wait for a better chance. But if you knew the kind of offers I had rejected during the pause in my career you wouldn't have said that. But I won't tell you which clubs."
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