Pep Lijnders has insisted that FSG are acting in the best interests of Liverpool FC after it was confirmed that the Reds' owners are actively searching for new investors and would be open to selling the club.
Admitting Liverpool' s coaching department were told in advance that FSG would be releasing such a statement, the Reds' assistant manager revealed he had discussed it with Jurgen Klopp, but believes such speculation won't be a distraction for the squad.
"First of all, everybody who saw us in the last years. Everybody who realised who we are as a club, realised we have a strong relationship with the owners," he told reporters. "We knew before, of course. We knew about the statement, nothing more than you guys knew.
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"Everything I know is what you know. I should ask you guys the question probably. It’s in the statement, it’s says very clear that they are searching for investors. That’s what we knew, it’s what we knew one and a half weeks ago or something.
"We didn’t think it would come out now but it’s come out now. It’s fine. What I like about this club and our structure is that we’re used to rumours being around but we focus on what matters and what matters is preparing for Derby.
"What I would like to say is that I always know the owners act in the best interests of the club and they always did. I believe they always tried at least. This relationship was very important for us.
"The statement was very clear. How did it distract us? To be honest, this is what I like about our club. We are so focussed. There was a small discussion between Jurgen and me but from that moment on, we start focussing (and) a big game coming up.
"I think the statement was clear. It's nothing new for a club to try and find investors. They are acting in the best interests of the club. They are trying to take the club forward."
He continued: "For me they are good owners and I will explain a few reasons why. First one, they tied down one of the best managers in the world for seven plus years. That says a lot. You sign the deal with Liverpool Football Club and the owners.
"But we are not naive enough to think that things don't change in football. That's how the football world works. Our relationship with them is very, very good. I respect them so much, you have no idea.
"Second, they tied the best players in the squad. The difference between European top or world top or sub top is you have to sell your best players. We tied down, they tied down Mo Salah contract.
"And then what is even more important in my opinion, we have a stable academy. They invested in the academy, they invested in where we are sitting now. It's one of the best training grounds in world football and it's our new home.
"It was not easy to replace Melwood but we are sitting here and feeling at home. They invest in this. Then the Main Stand, the new stand. They made a lot of good decisions.
"If they were not good owners, we would not be sitting here. In the end, we won a lot of cups. A lot of international and national prizes. They are acting in the best interests for this club to take it further.
"This is speculation, because they are searching for investors. That's the statement, I think the statement was really clear to be honest."
Meanwhile, Lijnders also defended FSG's record in the transfer market with Liverpool's owners facing repeated scrutiny in the past for not investing more in Klopp's first team squad.
"If you buy a lot of players, young players don’t get a chance. One influences the other," he said. "It’s also the type of player you want to buy. I think we invested well.
"If you look to our last year, bringing in Luis Diaz in the winter. It was a massive signing and needed. I said it was like water in the desert, to give the last push.
"Darwin will be a good signing. For me he is already a good signing but he will be a good signing. So young, so hungry. He can create five chances by himself in the game. A proper striker, an addition to what we didn’t have, the type.
"Then you have Calvin and Fabio. Young players who come in. Before that, Ibou Konate and Jota. These are all signings who were bullseyes.
"We cannot afford to buy and not be right. We can only afford to buy to be right. And it has to add something to our team. Something special, something new. Jota added something new, something special. Luis Diaz added something new, something special. Ibou Konate added something new, something special.
"We have to be right and that’s what we search for. What was most important was to tie down our best players. Our team is and was a machine. If you don’t tie them down, they will leave. It’s always a balance. You need to be right with your signings and I believe we were right.
"Do people want to see one or two or three or four more players? Of course! Everybody wants to see, the outside world. We prefer to have the right one, and to really work with. And give time for young ones, to really work with.
"Add and renew the team, make it younger, add the academy. Give talent a chance and to buy the top one who influences the first XI immediately like Luis, like Jota, like Ibou, like Kostas.
"I think we invested. What people will want to see is transfers is the one thing. Building a club and building a long-term successful relationship has much more to do than just the transfers. Tie down Jurgen Klopp for seven plus years, that is maybe even more important."
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