Jurgen Klopp: 'Shinji Kagawa's situation breaks my heart'

By Liam Power, Reporter | 21 May 2013

Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp feels that Shinji Kagawa deserves star billing at Manchester United in a central midfield position.

Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp has declared that Shinji Kagawa's reduced role at Manchester United this season breaks his heart.

Kagawa has largely occupied a wide role in his first season in the Premier League, scoring six times in 26 appearances for the Red Devils.

Klopp has admitted that losing Kagawa to United reduced him to tears last summer, while also insisting that the Japanese playmaker deserves to star in a central role for the English champions.

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. But for most Japanese people it means more to play for Man United than Dortmund.

"We cried for 20 minutes in each others' arms when he left. One year before that Nuri Sahin went because Real Madrid is the biggest club in the world. If players are patient enough, we can develop the team into one of the biggest in the world."

Dortmund will face bitter domestic rivals Bayern Munich this weekend in an all-German Champions League final at Wembley.