Advertisement

Jürgen Klopp makes final demand to Liverpool fans ahead of emotional Anfield farewell

Jürgen Klopp speaking at his final press conference ahead of his last game in charge of Liverpool
Jürgen Klopp speaking at his final press conference ahead of his last game in charge of Liverpool -Credit:Liverpool FC


Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp held his final pre-match press conference today as he prepares to bid farewell to the club. The German will take charge of the Reds for the final time on Sunday as they take on Wolves.

It's certain to be an emotional occasion at Anfield as Klopp brings the curtain down on nearly nine years at the helm, during which time he has restored Liverpool as a real force in world football. Ahead of his final game, he spoke to the media as he previewed the clash with Wolves, and looked back on his time on Merseyside.

What's happened?

Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp has lifted the lid on his final week at the club, detailing what he and the players have been getting up to as he prepares to bid farewell. It's certainly been a busy week for the outgoing manager, having been meeting various people at the club in order to say his goodbyes.

Liverpool 'blocked' Mohamed Salah from making Saudi Arabia transfer last summer

'I rejected Liverpool transfer 10 years ago but could be one of Arne Slot's first signings'

Klopp also had one final request for the Liverpool fans ahead of Sunday's game. Not only will he be leaving, but Pep Lijnders, other members of his backroom staff, and some of the players, including Joël Matip and Thiago Alcântara, will be hoping to go out in style before Klopp hands the reins over to Arne Slot this summer.

What's been said?

"The most intense week of my life, definitely," Klopp explained in his press conference. "I’ve said goodbye so often this week to so many people, great moments already. We don’t have to pretend it’s a normal week because it isn’t, but looking at the game, I said it already this week, I’m a very pragmatic person, I very often just try to save myself.

"This is the last game of the season, yes, and after that is a holiday. That’s what I had for the last 24 years, so it will be business as usual. Knowing that everything around the game will be completely different, yesterday the players said goodbye in their way, we had a little barbecue here and it was really nice.

"The day before I was with the staff, it was really, really nice, standing in the stadium after that, and other goodbyes, celebrations, whatever. It’s a lot, very emotional moments of course in between, but it’s a lot to do as well.

"I’m not sure, but I don’t know how many shirts I signed last week, but it was a few, let me say it like that. I’m not sure if everybody has one now.

"Saying goodbye I don’t think is ever nice, but saying goodbye without feeling sad or feeling hurt, that would just mean the time we spent together was not right, not great. We had a great time, so it was always clear it would be tough, and I know it will be tough."

Looking ahead to Sunday's game against Wolves, Klopp added: "I have no clue how the team meeting will be like. Can I be on fire? Probably yes but I don't know in the moment.

"Having an atmosphere in the game would be cool. Wolves are the most unlucky team I saw with VAR decisions. We had a few but they are the champions of that. They want to finish on a high. Standing there and pretending it was a normal game, no-one would believe that. A challenge for different reasons."

What does it mean?

It's all becoming rather real now, isn't it? Hearing Klopp talk about his final week at the club, and saying goodbye to the players and staff, really hits home that we'll be saying goodbye to a true Liverpool legend.

Klopp has utterly transformed the club since he arrived back in 2015, having brought the Reds back to the pinnacle of world football, and getting them challenging for the top honors once again. It's not just on the pitch that he'll be remembered though, having done so much for the Liverpool community in general.

Sunday is going to be such an emotional day for all involved. Anfield will no doubt give Klopp the farewell he deserves so much.