'I thought I was dreaming when I heard about Jurgen Klopp's new job - it's s***'

Former Borussia Dortmund stalwart Kevin Grosskreutz has .

Having played under for over 200 matches during a golden era for Dortmund which saw them clinch consecutive Bundesliga crowns and reach a final, Grosskreutz clearly has strong ties to his ex-boss.

However, has sparked a divide in Germany, especially amongst those loyal to his past sides. , who are unpopular across the country after circumventing the Bundesliga's 50+1 rule.

Grosskreutz, though regarding Klopp as a friend, openly expresses his discontent with the situation. On his podcast Viertelstunde Fussball, he shared his initial reaction: "I woke up, had 30 messages on my phone and thought: What happened?

"I thought I was dreaming; then I hoped it was fake news. Two hours later, it was official. It was pretty shocking and sad. Somehow, it hasn't really sunk in yet.

"I don't think anyone was expecting it. It's very, very strange, and I can't really comprehend it yet. It's like shock!"

However, Grosskreutz, who is 36 and still playing in the semi-professional fifth tier of German football, continues to hold Klopp in high regard despite not necessarily agreeing with the career move. That comes after recently at the Westfalenstadion.

"Nevertheless, he's a friend of mine, and I owe him a lot. And I will always be grateful to him.

"As a football fan, I think it sucks, to put it bluntly! But as a friend, you have to accept decisions being made. When we meet, I'll still tell him personally that I think it's s*** that he does something like that!"

Liverpool.com says: Klopp's new job is one that is going to continue to divide opinion. It doesn't diminish his achievements with his previous clubs in any way, but it does tell you how Leipzig is regarded in Germany that even Borussia Dortmund fans are rallying against their former boss now.