Jurgen Klopp’s First Interview
Jurgen Klopp was confirmed as the manager of Liverpool on Thursday evening after completing all formalities of the move to become the 20th boss in the Reds’ history.
The German sat down with the media for a 25-minute chat on his decision to take the helm at Anfield and the philosophy he will be trying to instill in the team.
Below is the interview in full;
JÃœRGEN, WELCOME TO LIVERPOOL.
Thank you so much.
HOW DO YOU FEEL?
Great! I have no other words for this. It was a crazy day with everything that happened in Germany and all that happened here when we landed. It was an absolutely great feeling for me and a big honour to be here. It’s one of the best moments in my life, I have to say. I’m here together with my family – not the whole family, one son is still at home – but we are here together and it feels like a dream.
WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO LIVERPOOL?
Everything. All I heard about, all I read about, all I felt when I saw, not too many matches in my life, but some very important games. I love football and the intensity of football in Liverpool is very good for me. I always thought about working in England because of the kind of football and the intensity of the football, and Liverpool was first choice. Now I have got the opportunity to work here, it’s the best thing I can imagine.
When asked what he was looking forward to achieving at Liverpool, Klopp responded: “Success. When you work in Germany, of course, I was watching British football but I was not so inside that I know what you have to reach. There’s Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham – they want to be successful in the table. Why should they reach what we don’t? It’s important what we can do together to change our situation. At the moment, all of the LFC family is a little bit too nervous, a little bit too pessimistic, too often in doubt. They all celebrate the game, it’s a great atmosphere in the stadium, but they don’t believe at the moment. I’m not a guy to say ‘this year will be the best year in the history of LFC’. If it happens, we can celebrate. If not, we have to work further.”
FINALLY, WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THE LIVERPOOL SUPPORTERS?
We have to change from doubters to believers. Now.