Jürgen Klopp has finally broken the spell. After six lost finals, the German cult coach won the Champions League on Saturday with Liverpool. It’s the first title for the „Reds“ in the era of Klopp, the first in the premier class since 2005. „Unbelievable. I can not find words, I’m speechless, „said the 51-year-old after the game.
For the club anthem „You’ll Never Walk Alone“ Klopp threw the trophy in the night sky of Madrid and shouted out his joy. Then he was carried by his Liverpool players to Fankurve and thrown in the air. „I’ve been to so many finals and lost them. This is for my family, for the fans. They had to suffer so long, „said Klopp in a hoarse voice and tears in his eyes.
An early penalty from Mohamed Salah (2nd) and a late goal by Divock Origi (87.) brought the „Reds“ after two lost European Cup finals in 2016 and 2018 and second place in the English championship deserved first trophy of the era Klopp and the sixth success in the most important club competition overall. 371 days after the bitter final defeat by Kiev against Real Madrid (1: 3), the ban from Klopp was broken.
„Let’s talk about six, baby!“
Forgotten were the six lost finals with Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool. His satisfaction with it left Klopp out after the game in an interview. „There are always a few people who tell you: Yeah, but you never won,“ said the 51-year-old. And all of a sudden, in a slight modification of a ’90s hit, he began to sing: „Let’s talk about six, baby!“ That meant the sixth Champions League title of his LFC
However, Klopp did not forget about his opponent Mauricio Pochettino in the hour of the triumph. When the triumph was perfect, the German proved to be a fair sportsman. He hugged the Tottenham coach, hit his fist on the heart – and then hugged each one of his players. Afterwards he let his emotions run free („This is the best night of my professional life“), before he sounded at the press conference again. „It feels really good, but I am much calmer than I always expected from that moment,“ he said.
„It was not so important for me personally to touch the trophy. I’m happy about all the pictures in which my players hold him in his hand, „said Klopp. And just those players scattered their coach after the crowning of an outstanding season roses. „He is a fantastic coach. He is also a fantastic person, „said Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk. „I am very proud that we have won this trophy together for this great club.“
Also Joel Matip, the only German player in this Champions League final, said after the game: „I’m really happy for Jürgen Klopp. People have written a lot about his finals series. But he has worked hard for this success with us. „The final itself will be remembered as one of the weakest finals in recent years, but with victories such as against Barcelona (4-0) and Bayern Munich (3-1) Klopp and Liverpool have more than earned this title in the course of the competition.
Fighting announcement for next season
On Sunday afternoon, several hundred thousand people want to receive the team for a gigantic victory celebration in Liverpool. And if it goes to Klopp, the „Reds“ have just started winning. „I just had Pep Guardiola on the phone,“ he said of the coach of the big championship rivals Manchester City, who only had one point more than Liverpool at the end of the Premier League season. „We promised to kick each other in the butt again next season. We will try everything again and see if we can win something again. „
