Jürgen Klopp Appreciates Fan Support, Not Going Anywhere

It’s been an extremely difficult couple of months for Jürgen Klopp, both professionally as well as personally. His Liverpool side has hit a rough patch in form, falling from top of the table at Christmas to fighting for a Champion’s League spot with a plethora of other squads. Klopp has also had to deal with personal tragedy, losing his mother, and he was not able to travel to be with her prior to her passing, or to attend her funeral after her passing.

After some (understandably) testy replies to journalists, some asking some fairly leading questions looking for click-bait answers, certain corners of the Liverpool internet began to worry. Was it all too much for Klopp? Was he burnt out, not seemingly able to get his team motivated as had occurred at Borussia Dortmund? Could the German manager walk away from the team, or even be sacked?

While keyboard warriors began to spew conspiracy theories (there are some real gems out there), supporters on Merseyside made a banner for Klopp showing that the fans where behind him. At his pre-match presser ahead of the tie with Red Bull Leipzig, Klopp took some time to thank the fans for the support.

“The banner is nice obviously – not necessary, I don’t think,” said Klopp. “I don’t feel that I need special support in the moment or whatever. But it’s nice, very nice.”

As for the rumors swirling that he was on his way out, Jürgen was happy to unequivocally put that to bed.

What was the other thing? That I could leave? That I could get the sack or leave by myself or take a break? Neither, nor. I don’t need a break. Look, the last thing I want to do is talk about private things in a press conference, but meanwhile everybody knows – yes, privately, we had an absolutely tougher time but that was not only now for three weeks ago or whatever, that was a much longer time already and we always dealt with it as a family, 100 per cent. And when I came here to the football club, to work, I’m 53, I worked in football for 30 years, as a coach for 20 years, I can split things. I can switch off one thing and the other thing, I don’t carry things around. If I’m private, I’m private. If I’m in football, at the workplace, then I’m here. Of course we are influenced by things that happen around, but nobody has to worry about me or whatever. I am, honestly – I might not look like this because the weather is not cool, I’m white and the beard gets more and more grey, all these kind of things, yes, I don’t sleep a lot, that’s all true and my eyes look tired, that’s all fine – but I’m full of energy.

So, there you have it. Jürgen Klopp thanks you for your concern, but he is not going anywhere. He’s ready to get his Liverpool squad ready for the knockout rounds of the Champions League, and fight for a spot in the top four in the Premier League. So, people with pipe dreams about Steven Gerrard swooping in the save the season will have to wait.