Jürgen Klopp’s Final Good Bye
Klopp has his final say on his feelings leading up to his last game.
As Jürgen Klopp plans to say goodbye to Liverpool for the last time on Sunday, the club have released his last pre-match programme notes. In it, though Klopp expresses sadness at his departure, he also keeps the focus on the game at hand.
He begins, “First and foremost – in fact first, second and last – Sunday is a matchday. We cannot and will not lose sight of that. Since I have been here there have been many, many games where other things have been happening but the absolute rule is that from the first whistle to final whistle we do everything we can to play proper Liverpool football.”
The concept of proper Liverpool football has taken on new meaning in the years since the manager joined the club and slowly remade it in his image. Contrary to how it might have felt at the time, the team wasn’t in crisis under former manager Brendan Rodgers. They were just...floundering. After the loss of key players, it felt like the team was aimlessly drifting towards midtable mediocrity.
Then came Klopp and his heavy metal football and his strong vision for what the team should become. He gave the team a direction, a clear goal to work for together. More importantly, he once again rebuilt the relationship between the club and supporters, creating a bond with the fans that is rarely seen from a manager.
As the sun sets on Klopp’s glorious Liverpool rein, the boss ended with some words of praise and confidence in the club going forward without him.
“Of course, this is my final game as Liverpool manager. This is something you have all known for a few months and I have known for a little longer but as much as I know it is the right time for me to leave I know also that it will take some getting used to. If the starting point was the announcement, the next big step into the future is Sunday,” he continued.
“Yes, they will have new leadership before too long but this is a club that is ready to take the journey in a new and exciting direction, not one that is ready for the journey to come to an end.
“This is what I have always known Liverpool to be – a club of journeys and adventures, some that end with trophies and some that don’t but whatever happens there are always stories and moments that are unforgettable.”
Honestly, if “a club of journeys and adventures” isn’t put on a t-shirt by this summer, then I don’t know what we’re all doing here.
All right, everyone. Put on your big kid pants, grab your tissues, and get ready for tomorrow and a step into a hopefully bright future.
Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com
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