Every word from Jurgen Klopp’s emotional last pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool vs Wolves

Jurgen Klopp is preparing to take charge of Liverpool for the final time (Picture: Getty)

An emotional Jurgen Klopp reflected on his standout moments and memories from nine trophy-laden years in charge of Liverpool as he faced the media for his final pre-match press conference this morning.

Liverpool’s season comes to an end at home to Wolves on Sunday and it promises to be a highly charged affair at Anfield, with supporters given the chance to say goodbye to their beloved head coach one last time.

Klopp rocked the footballing world with a shock announcement confirming his impending departure back in January and the German’s long farewell has cast a shadow over the club’s campaign, which has fizzled somewhat after their Carabao Cup triumph in February.

The 56-year-old leaves enormous shoes to fill on Merseyside and Arne Slot, currently the manager of Feyenoord, has emerged as the clear frontrunner to take on that daunting – and seemingly impossible – task.

Widespread reports last month suggested Liverpool and Feyenoord had reached an agreement over a compensation package for Slot and the Dutchman is expected to be unveiled in due course.

Liverpool announced that Thiago Alcantara and Joel Matip would both be following their manager out the exit door in the summer and Klopp gave his thoughts on the duo’s exit among a host of other topics as he addressed the media.

Klopp steps down after nine trophy-laden years on Merseyside (Picture: Getty)

Klopp on his final week at Liverpool

‘The most intense week of my life. Great moments already. We don’t have to pretend it’s normal week because it isn’t,’ he said.

‘I’m a very pragmatic person. This is last game of the season and after that it’s holiday. Business as usual.

‘Yesterday the players said goodbye. We had a barbecue here. It’s a lot. I have emotional moments of course. I don’t know how many shirts I signed! It’s all part of the thing.

‘Saying goodbye is never nice but saying goodbye without feeling sad or hurt, that would mean the time was not good. The time was great. It will be tough.’

Lijnders (left) has been appointed as Red Bull Salzburg’s manager (Picture: Getty)

Klopp on Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders taking charge of Red Bull Salzburg

‘He’s a fantastic coach, one of the most influential coaches I ever had,’ Klopp said.

‘We created a style of play I really love. I will follow each step of them.

‘A great choice, they are really lucky.’

Achterberg joins Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq (Picture: Getty)

Klopp on goalkeeping coach John Achterberg joining Al-Ettifaq

Klopp said: ‘John Achterberg joins Stevie [Gerrard] in Saudi Arabia. Good luck with that!

‘A fantastic coach. Jack Robinson [assistant goalkeeping coach] is leaving as well. Fantastic young coach. Future is bright for him.

‘So many people will leave but it’s normal. They don’t leave because I go. It’s a new start and it’s fine.

‘Everyone is super thankful. They will be fine and I will follow whatever they do.’

Matip and Thiago follow Klopp out of Liverpool this summer (Picture: Getty)

Klopp on Thiago Alcantara and Joel Matip departures

‘Thiago and Joel were in my office this week. Have you ever seen a better free transfer than Joel Matip? Ridiculously funny and a wonderful man,’ Klopp said.

‘He has to make a decision if he wants to play on. Whoever gets him is a lucky club because he is world class and super humble.

‘I would have loved to see Thiago’s career without injuries. One of the best I ever saw. In control of everything on the pitch. In a good way, he looked good yesterday.

‘I told them already thank you for everything they did. They were all brilliant. If they weren’t, they would have left last year.’

Klopp faces off against Gary O’Neil in his final match as Liverpool boss (Picture: Getty)

Klopp on his final Liverpool game vs Wolves

‘I have no clue how the team meeting will be like. Can I be on fire? Probably yes but I don’t know in the moment,’ Klopp said.

‘Having an atmosphere in the game would be cool. Wolves are the most unlucky team I saw with VAR decisions.

‘We had a few but they are the champions of that.

‘They want to finish on a high. Standing there and pretending it was a normal game, no-one would believe that. A challenge for different reasons.’

The German lifted the Champions League trophy with Liverpool in 2019 (Picture: Getty)

Klopp on the Carabao Cup win and his trophy record on Merseyside

‘It was my favourite final we ever played. We know how people see the Carabao but in that moment it felt absolutely outstanding,’ Klopp said.

‘It showed everything this club is about. Our people can create some special moments.

‘That night we all created something really special. From the club point of view, it was the best night of our lives.

‘I loved it. I loved to see the kids’ eyes. And the other ones, Virgil [van Dijk], skipper, first trophy. A fantastic night, I’ll never forget it.’

Van Dijk scored a dramatic extra-time header to lead Liverpool to the Carabao Cup (Picture: Getty)

Klopp on the highlights of his time in charge of Liverpool

‘The football we played was the best we played against Manchester City this year. We never controlled them like we did that day. That day we played the best. We won before but it was different games,’ Klopp said.

‘Controlling a game like that, it was my favourite 60 minutes or so.

‘Most spectacular, Barcelona. Best goal, Alisson Becker. Best assist, Trent Alexander-Arnold. Best save Alisson Becker against Napoli.

‘Do you want best cross? Best back-heel goal, Sadio Mane.’

Liverpool won the 2019/20 Premier League title under Klopp (Picture: Getty)

Klopp on Liverpool’s trophy haul under his reign

‘I’m absolutely fine. I know we could have won more but I can’t change that. We could have won less as well,’ Klopp said.

‘Not being champion by a point is not a great experience but it’s an experience. I couldn’t have done anything different in these moments. When we don’t score at City when the ball wasn’t over the line, and then [Sergio] Aguero scores at Burnley when it is just over the line. That is not my fault!

‘We could have won more Champions Leagues. Being in three finals is an outstanding achievement. There is a good chance you lose the final, that’s how it is. Real Madrid, they always find a way to win it. We tried again.

‘ I would not be happy if I thought I could have done more. I couldn’t have done more. Could someone else have done better? Possibly. But not me, and I’m fine with it. It’ll be judged by the people and most are fine with it.’

Klopp steered Liverpool to Carabao Cup glory in February (Picture: Getty)

Klopp on saying goodbye to life in Liverpool

‘It will be so hard to say goodbye. I loved everything about this place. I take memories with me, fantastic memories. Friendships forever,’ Klopp said.

‘When time slips through your fingers, you only realise later on. I don’t think it was a quick nine years. We used absolutely everything, tried to make the best of everything and enjoy it as much as possible.

‘I will not forget a day in that time because I met the best people I ever met and the best club I could have imagined in a wonderful, very special city. Nothing is perfect these days, but the majority of people in this city are as close as possible.

‘For the way they welcome you, the way they treat you. It’s wonderful to know I spent a big time of my life here. I got the key of the city. For me, it feels like responsibility. If the city needs me, I’m there. I want to be helpful in whatever way.’

Klopp on the photograph of him alone at Anfield this week

‘I love Anfield to be bits, I love it when it’s full. That was created,’ Klopp said.

‘I hope that is not a picture of my time in Liverpool, alone in the stadium.

‘They asked me to do that. It felt strange. I will never do it again!

‘I was not alone, a lot of cameras were around. Anfield is a super, super special place. Because of the people. They make it exceptional.’

Sunday’s contest promises to be an emotional affair at Anfield (Picture: Getty)

Klopp on his bond with the supporters

‘I can’t. I try to explain why the people like me so much. I don’t understand it properly. We never really disappointed them. The club is special, the club means the world to so many people,’ Klopp said.

‘Emails, letters, if I answer them all I’m here until 2028. I apologise. I couldn’t sort tickets for the last game, there were a lot of requests.

‘LFC TV had me read letters yesterday. With one, I burst into tears. Football changes lives and I know that. We did that. Experience is there to learn from.

‘Keep doing it for the next manager and you will feel the same way. We have very special supporters. The last nine years meant the world to them. I’m happy about that.’

Klopp has had an enormous impact on fans since arriving in 2015 (Picture: Getty)

Klopp on whether he expected to have such an impact on fans

‘Yeah! I thought, “Come on, let’s do that!”‘ Klopp said.

‘I had a good relationship at Mainz with the people. For them it was the hardest because they saw me 11 years playing!

‘We created a really special bond at Dortmund as well. We never planned it but I like it a lot. It makes football really enjoyable. Because the people love it so much, we play in fantastic stadiums, earn a lot of money.

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‘You have to experience that together. I never understood, we are the ambassadors of the people. We have to fulfil their dreams.

‘That’s why I understand the people love that time but I never expected it to happen because you never know how the people will take it.

‘Our thoughts fitted like a glove with the people.’

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