During the “Danke, Jürgen” farewell event, former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp did not hold back his criticisms towards some of the club’s rivals. Notably, he seemed to take aim at Manchester City for their alleged financial rules breaches. Klopp also made comments about Chelsea’s owners and Manchester United’s handling of Jadon Sancho. This shows Klopp’s willingness to speak his mind and not shy away from controversy.
Klopp returned to Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena for the send-off event, nine days after his final match in charge, which was a 2-0 victory over Wolves at Anfield. During his nine-year tenure, Klopp won seven major trophies, including the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League title in 2020. However, Liverpool were narrowly beaten to the title by Manchester City on two occasions, showing the competitiveness of the Premier League during Klopp’s time at the club.
One of the interesting points Klopp made during the event was about Liverpool’s transfer policy. He mentioned that he had no regrets over not signing star players like Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, and Erling Haaland. Klopp emphasized that it is not the “Liverpool way” to spend unlimited amounts of money on players. Instead, Liverpool focused on doing things their own way and having hard conversations, which differentiated them from other clubs.
Klopp also expressed his gratitude towards Liverpool’s owners for their support during his time at the club. He contrasted Liverpool’s ownership with owners of other clubs, implying that he wouldn’t have survived a year at a different team. Klopp appreciated the faith and responsibility shown by Liverpool’s owners, highlighting the importance of having owners who are genuinely invested in the club’s success.
In addition to his comments on rivals like Manchester City and Chelsea, Klopp also took a subtle dig at Manchester United during the event. He criticized United’s treatment of Jadon Sancho, who had a tumultuous time at the club before returning to Borussia Dortmund on loan. Klopp highlighted the importance of a manager supporting their player, especially when the whole world loses trust and faith in them.
Overall, Jürgen Klopp’s farewell event speech was a reflection of his time at Liverpool and his willingness to speak his mind. Klopp’s criticisms of rival clubs and his appreciation for Liverpool’s owners painted a picture of a manager who values loyalty and integrity above all else. His legacy at Liverpool will undoubtedly be remembered for his winning mentality, unique transfer policy, and strong relationship with both players and fans.