From the moment Jurgen Klopp had announced his intention to leave Liverpool at the end of the season, their final game of the campaign at Anfield against Wolverhampton Wanderers gained far greater significance. Speaking from the pitch, Klopp was serenaded by the club’s fans, he paid tribute to them as a “superpower”, and welcomed new manager Arne Slot with a song.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp told the club’s fans they are “the superpower of world football” in an emotional farewell speech.
Klopp announced in January that he would leave Anfield at the end of the current season and with no European involvement after a UEFA Europa League defeat to Atalanta, the final game came on Sunday against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Liverpool claimed a routine 2-0 victory to take third place, but with nothing to play for the attention was on Klopp’s departure rather than the result.
‘The most intense week’ – Klopp gears up for final match as Liverpool manager’The most intense week’ – Klopp gears up for final match as Liverpool manager.
Klopp spoke to the fans from the pitch after he was serenaded by supporters, who are often regarded as some of the best in the world given their passion for their club.
In the previous summer, Klopp had overhauled the side’s midfield, and with young players such as Conor Bradley coming through too, the German reflected that the club were on the cusp of a renewal.
He said: “It doesn’t feel like an end. It just feels like a start. Today I saw a football team play full of talent, youth, creativity, desire, greed. That’s one part of development, that’s what you need obviously.
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“In these few weeks where I have had too much attention, I realised a lot of things. People say I turned them from doubters into believers. That’s not true. You did it. Nobody tells you to stop believing. This club is in a better moment than a long time.”
He then paid high praise to the fans, adding: “We have this wonderful stadium, training centre and you – the superpower of world football. Wow.”
Klopp won the Premier League and UEFA Champions League in his time at the club, and he concluded by acknowledging his sadness, before welcoming new manager, Feyenoord’s Arne Slot, with a chant in his honour.
“We decide if we are worried or excited,” he continued . “We decide if we believe. We decide if we trust or don’t trust. Today I am one of you and I keep believing. I stay believing 100%.
“Obviously I saw a lot of people crying and I will tonight too because I will miss people but change is good. Everything will be fine because the basics are 100% there.
“You welcome the new manager like you welcomed me. You go all in from the first day. You keep believing. You push the team. I’m one of you now. I love you to bits.
“Thank you. You are the best team in the world. Thank you.
“Arne Slot, na, na, na, na!”