Jurgen Klopp, the former manager of Liverpool, recently bid farewell to fans during a question and answer session at the M&S Bank Arena in the city. In his final appearance, Klopp took the opportunity to make some lighthearted jabs at his Premier League rivals, including Manchester City, Manchester United, and Chelsea.
During the event, Klopp revealed that he had been given a list of off-limits topics, including TNT, referees, Man City, financial matters, and VAR. However, when asked about the possibility of Liverpool being awarded two more Premier League titles if City were stripped of honors due to financial irregularities, Klopp expressed his support. He jokingly said that if a bus parade were organized, he would gladly take part, regardless of how long it takes.
The German manager also addressed the criticism that Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, did not provide enough financial support. Klopp defended the owners, stating that they are focused on making money like any other owners. He expressed gratitude for having owners who genuinely care about the club and mentioned that he wouldn’t have survived a year with owners like those of London clubs.
Klopp also touched upon his renowned man-management style, emphasizing the importance of standing behind players when the world loses trust and faith in them. He took a subtle dig at other clubs by mentioning their tendency to buy players for large sums of money and then send them out on loan.
Regarding his successor, Arne Slot, the Feyenoord coach who is set to take over on Saturday, Klopp had a positive outlook. He joked about the conversation being “s**t” but clarified that it was actually a productive talk. Klopp expressed confidence in Slot’s abilities and stated that he doesn’t believe the Dutchman will need any further advice. He mentioned that there is a strong foundation for the next manager and humorously added that Liverpool’s failure to win everything this year has already helped the new manager.
Klopp’s emotional farewell to Anfield after the final match of the season against Wolves was a poignant moment. While he managed to keep his composure during that goodbye, he was moved to tears when the entire arena stood up and chanted “I’m so glad that Jurgen is a Red.” The heartfelt tribute to Klopp’s contributions to the club left a lasting impact.
Despite leaving his managerial role, Klopp will continue to serve as an ambassador for the LFC Foundation. All proceeds from the farewell event will be donated to the club’s charity, benefitting both internal projects and the wider community.
Overall, Klopp’s farewell appearance provided fans with a mix of lighthearted banter, gratitude towards Liverpool’s owners, and a glimpse into his man-management philosophy. His departure marked the end of an era for Liverpool, but his legacy and impact on the club will continue to resonate.