With just seven Premier League games remaining in his tenure, Klopp has spoken of how he wants to be remembered, handling the pressure and his perfect Liverpool send-off.
from Jackie Beltrao, Sportscaster
Sat Apr 13 2024 05:17 UK
Interviewing Jurgen Klopp on the morning after Liverpool’s rare and humiliating defeat by Atalanta in the Europa League at Anfield is not the ideal moment.
After a sleepless night of analyzing what did and did not happen, Klopp has already moved on to Sunday’s game against Crystal Palace: “That game was definitely a low point in terms of performance,” he says.
“The good thing about a low point is that it’s easy to improve, so you just have to take the next step and we have to show that straight away against Palace. In life and sport, you can have setbacks, it’s all about reaction.”
But these are further disappointments for Liverpool following last Sunday’s draw with Manchester United and with no room for hesitation in this three-way title race, he admits the game at Palace has become mainstream.
“It would have been massive anyway, but now with that in mind [the loss to Atalanta] to the outside world it’s even more massive,” he says.
“What better way to wake you up than a loud alarm clock and apparently last night I can still hear the bells so that means we should be up for it.”
With just seven Premier League games left in his tenure, the pressure on the players is intense – nobody wants to make the mistake that could knock Liverpool out of the title race.
There are obviously nerves, but Klopp says talking is key: “We talk and remind the boys about the things we’re really good at because we’re really good.
“That’s the reason we’re where we are, we just have to show it every day and that’s the situation now. It’s not new, it might be a bit new for some, but then the more experienced players have to step in and lead the pack on the pitch.”
When he led Liverpool to the Premier League title in 2020, COVID meant the precious trophy was lifted to an empty stadium, but Klopp did not consider it a missed moment in his life.
He says: “For me, I’ve had enough parades and parties, it’s never been about that and it never will be (about that), but I’d like to give people a chance to celebrate something special and I think it would be right as well.
“I’m still happy we’re still in this fight. I want to make sure we really do. Sometimes life and football are the same, you need a good kick to understand why you do what you do and we got that kick and we’re going to use it.”
Having to juggle the squad this season, bringing in young players to seamlessly fill gaps has had its challenges, but Klopp laughs off the idea that it would be one of his greatest managerial achievements if they manage to win the title in the league.
Read more from Sky News:
LFC fan running 227 miles from Anfield to Grenfell
Former football player diagnosed with cancer
Sky Sports extend Women’s Super League deal
“I don’t care if that would mean that – would that make me a great manager? I’ve never considered myself a great manager. Never, never in my life,” says the football manager.
“To this day I’m surprised that people see me that way, that’s 100% true, but I accept that people see me that way.
“The important thing is that the people of Liverpool are happy with what we’ve done, that’s the only important thing. I don’t need to be compared to Arsene Wenger or anything. It means nothing to me.
“On my tombstone I don’t want ‘here’s one of the most successful managers on the planet’ under which you still lie. No, not for me. I want to be remembered as someone who helped people through life.”
Life after Anfield
Each game brings the 56-year-old German closer to the end of his Liverpool history.
After shocking the football world with announcement in January that he will leave at the end of this season, he has no doubts about his decision, saying it was “100%” right.
So what is his plan? Holidays? Gardening?
“There are a few things, Ulla [Klopp’s wife] told me – I should learn cooking and dance class,” he says.
“I said you don’t want me to take a break because if I do I’ll be back to work in four weeks again! I should probably learn to cook so I can at least make breakfast or whatever.”
He goes on to say, “This will be the first time in my life that I have no real idea of what I’m going to do, and that’s exactly what I want.”
When I ask him if he can cook anything at all, he says, “No. Hot water, tea, does that count?
“I used to make scrambled eggs during COVID, but then I forgot about it again. I grew up in the Black Forest with two sisters, the only reason I knew where the kitchen was was because the smell was coming from there! I’m a pretty useless life alone.”
I end the interview with a hypothetical question about sending him to Liverpool.
If you could choose one artist or band (living or dead) to play, who would it be and what would they play?
“It’s Liverpool so it would be The Beatles 100%, they could easily pick the song because I love them all,” he says.
“Actually the band that is alive is Die Toten Hosen, the translation is The Dead Pants. It’s a punk rock band and the lead singer Campino is a good friend of mine and the biggest LFC supporter on the planet – it would be the biggest day of his life.
“They sing in German so no one understands, but that’s fine,” adds Klopp, laughing at the idea.
