Jürgen Klopp has stated that there are more chapters to be written in his “wonderful” Liverpool story before it concludes, but that winning the Carabao Cup would be more important to the club than his personal legacy.
The Liverpool manager claimed Wednesday’s comeback against Luton represented one new chapter, with his depleted team going four points clear at the top of the Premier League on a rousing night at Anfield, and that he “couldn’t give a shit” about the outside world’s reaction to his exuberant celebrations.
Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Chelsea provides another possibility, and while Klopp argues that trophy would mean more in his final season, he feels Liverpool can put on a great farewell tour.
“I want to win on Sunday, but not for myself or my trophy cabinet,” added Klopp, who will wait until the last minute to see if Mohamed Salah, Darwin Núñez, and Dominik Szoboszlai are able to play. “It is for the boys, the club, and the community. That is far more essential, and everything will carry on.
“We are now writing a beautiful novel, I would say. We wrote and are still writing a great novel, which we will close when I depart. We’ll put it on the shelf, and someone else will create another fantastic book. That’s the idea. I will not leave anything behind; I will give everything till the very last second.”
Klopp may add four more trophies to his trophy cabinet at Anfield before retiring at the conclusion of the season. “Yes there is space for some chapters,” that’s what he stated. “I am not yet writing my résumé. I am completely focused on making a few special memories on top of what we have already done.
“We’ll see what’s feasible, but the foundation we’ve built so far – come on, 60 points is an unbelievable amount given all that’s happened. And everyone knows it should be 61 or 63. [Except for the VAR disaster at Tottenham.]
We all know this! It’s quite special, and let’s keep going. The red section of Wembley should be rocking – that would be fantastic. “This team deserves every push.”
The celebration police were out again this week as Klopp fist-pumped all four sides of Anfield following the win over Luton. He argued that the reaction did not indicate that he is cherishing every win as if it were his last.
“Sometimes things happen to me – it’s not that I plan it or whatever,” he went on to say. “It was a very special game that I will never forget and will tell my grandchildren about. It happened because of the fantastic performance in a great setting. You can make whatever you want out of my festivities.
“I heard that Mikel Arteta over-celebrated his win over us. That certainly did not come from me. Everyone is free to do anything they choose.
I did not invent fist pumps, I do not own the copyright, and I do not want it. You do what you do for yourself and your people, and I don’t care what the rest of the world thinks. And you can write it just like that. “This is only for us.”
