Monday, 15th September, 2014



Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp believes Shinji Kagawa was a victim of circumstance at Manchester United, rather than an unmitigated flop.

Kagawa was taken to Manchester United from Dortmund in 2012 by Sir Alex Ferguson, but struggled to impose himself with the Red Devils.



Ferguson was then succeeded by David Moyes, but as the Old Trafford castle fell apart under the Scot, Kagawa was cast to the fringes.

And this summer the Japan international was quickly declared surplus to requirements by new boss Louis van Gaal, allowing Klopp to swoop in and take Kagawa back to Dortmund.

 


The German boss continues to rate the attacking midfielder highly and feels his failure at Old Trafford was not of his own making.

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"I was kind of surprised Kagawa was on the market again", Klopp was quoted as saying by FIFA.

"His first year at Manchester United was Sir Alex Ferguson's last year, so that isn't the time to develop players. The only thing you want at that stage is results and titles.

"Kagawa's second year at United was the first year of the new coach, so that's also all about results.

"Then there was a third manager with a very successful philosophy."

Kagawa has wasted little time in getting back into the swing of life with Dortmund and was on the scoresheet for the club this weekend in a 3-1 Bundesliga win over Freiburg.

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