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How Liverpool players said goodbye to Jürgen Klopp and moment he burst into tears

Jurgen Klopp waves to the Liverpool fans after the draw against Aston Villa
Jürgen Klopp will take charge of Liverpool for the final time on Sunday -Credit:Getty Images


It’s been an emotional few days for Jürgen Klopp. The Liverpool boss has lifted the lid on the ‘most intense week of my life’ as he prepares to bid farewell to Anfield.

Klopp will bring the curtain down on nearly nine years in charge of Liverpool this weekend. He will lead the Reds for the final time against Wolves on Sunday, and will be hoping to go out in style.

The German’s impact on Liverpool has almost been immeasurable. Klopp has transformed the Reds’ fortunes, and will hand the reins over to Arne Slot this summer with the club back among the world’s elite.

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Speaking on Friday ahead of his farewell game, Klopp revealed how busy he has been over the past week as he says his goodbyes to the club, revealing the Liverpool squad said their goodbyes with a barbecue at the training ground on Thursday.

“The most intense week of my life, definitely,” Klopp said. “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.”

Klopp will no doubt find it difficult to keep his emotions in check as he says his final goodbyes to Anfield on Sunday. The departing Liverpool boss has already been brought to tears by the fans this week, detailing the moment one letter in particular hit him hard.

“I can't. I try to explain why the people like me so much. I don't understand it properly. We never really disappointed them.

“The club is special, the club means the world to so many people. Emails, letters, if I answer them all I'm here until 2028. I apologize. I couldn't sort tickets for the last game, there were a lot of requests.

“LFC TV had me read letters yesterday. With one, I burst into tears. Football changes lives and I know that. We did that.

“Experience is there to learn from. Keep doing it for the next manager and you will feel the same way. We have very special supporters. The last nine years meant the world to them. I'm happy about that.”

Liverpool.com says: If Jürgen’s already crying, then how on earth are any of us supposed to hold it together on Sunday? That final game will be quite the occasion as Anfield bids farewell to one of the club’s greatest managers. He'll no doubt get the send-off he deserves so much.