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30

2019

5th, Klopp Says Champions
June

| League Is Just The Beginning
EXAMINER anager Jurgen Klopp six final defeats but, more group, they all have the best

believes winning his first
IRISH Mtrophy with Liverpool is importantly, for the majority of times in their careers ahead of
the players it was their first sen-
them so that’s big.
only the beginning and the squad
ior trophy after losing the final
“For me, I’m really happy. I
he has assembled has its best years to Real Madrid 12 months ago. have a lot of silver medals and
stilltocome. And the Reds boss predicts it now I have a golden one so it’ll
The club’s sixth European will not be the last. be next to the silver medals in
Cup – a tally bettered only by “Now we won something my house and that’s cool.
Real Madrid (13) and AC Milan and we will carry on. We want “But mostly I’m happy for all
(seven) was secured with a 2-0 to win things, 100 per cent. I’ve the other people. When you
win over Tottenham in the said it, this is only the start for saw it in the dressing room,
Spanish capital. this group,” he said. everybody felt it but you don’t
For Klopp it ended a run of “It’s still a wonderful age really know what to do with it.

“But I’m really sure when “My job is to take all the
we drive through the city then responsibility and I like that
we all will realise what these actually because it gives my
boys have done and that’s the players the freedom to play
best moment, for sure.” football. That’s how I under-
Two of Klopp’s senior play- stand it,” he said.
ers, his captain Jordan “Sometimes it would be eas-
Henderson, and veteran mid- ier to understand it in a differ-
fielder James Milner have ent way but that’s how I under-
endured their fair share of criti- stand it.
cism since the German took “But look at my coaches,
over in October 2015. what we all did during the year
Klopp felt putting a trophy in to try to make the next step.
the cabinet was vindication for “We started in Evian in the
them and his faith in them. (summer) training camp, bring-
“I’m happy for the boys. You ing these players and knowing
know what people said about a they need time but we had to
couple of players of this team,” win football games from the
he added. start, it was difficult.
“Jordan Henderson is cap- “But it feels so good: 97
tain of the Champions League points, now you can say it, 97
winner 2019 – that’s satisfying points in the league is incredible
actually. And that Millie did it at and winning the Champions
the age of 33. League – that’s an unbelievably
“They are all very impor- long way to go and we did it.
tant. Without Millie’s dressing- “But after the (Champions
room talks before the game – League) final last year, when
with a non-native manager – I we came home to Liverpool, it
think it would not be possible. was not cool.
It’s so important. “One of my friends is a
“All the things they did dur- singer and my assistant coach
ing the weeks, how they lifted we sang a song: ‘We saw the
when we had little downs, it’s European Cup, Madrid had all
just incredible. the luck, we swear we’ll keep
“It is really emotional, that’s on being cool, we’ll bring it
my main feeling, it’s over- back to Liverpool’.
whelming.” “Nobody thought in that
Klopp was keen to deflect moment it would happen. In
some of the glory from himself that moment it was only to lift
to his squad and backroom our mood a little bit and now it
staff, who also contributed to a happened actually, so we have
record-breaking Premier to think about what we will
League runners-up tally of 97 sing now because obviously it
points. means something.” C