Jurgen Klopp admits he was taken aback on his first visit to Old Trafford as Liverpool manager as he prepares for his final showdown with Manchester United.
The Reds make the short journey down the East Lancs Road to take on their bitter North West rivals on Sunday aiming to maintain their Premier League title challenge.
Klopp has won just two of his previous nine games at United, with the most recent clash only three weeks ago when Liverpool were beaten 4-3 in their FA Cup quarter-final.
READ MORE: ‘Wow, what was that?’ – Liverpool coaches can’t believe what is happening in training as Darwin Nunez change explained
READ MORE: Liverpool line-up reaction underlines change that should worry Man City and Arsenal
And asked about whether he had been fully aware of the ferocity of the rivalry between the two heavyweights before moving to Anfield, Klopp said: “Probably not the full extent of understanding because how can you?
“I was surprised by how powerful Old Trafford can be, because I only knew it about Anfield until then about what a stadium we have and the atmosphere we can create. But (Old Trafford) is not bad as well! I love this kind of intensity, focus on the game.
“I don’t like it when it goes over on the top on the pitch which we had for sure in the beginning in Everton games where you go ‘sorry, is any ref here to just tell them to stop doing that, it’s just a football game?’. It wasn’t that much against United but you realise pretty quick this is the one game a year where whatever happens, you better win that.”
Klopp will leave Liverpool at the end of the season after almost nine years in charge having led the club to become champions of England, Europe and the world. The Reds have already won the League Cup this campaign, and remain in the hunt for the Premier League title while reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa League – the only major honour Klopp hasn’t won during his tenure.
“It’s not that I’ve won a lot, but I’ve won a few things, not alone obviously but with the teams,” he said. “I only can understand the size of it by seeing from other people what it means to them. For me, it’s fantastic, great, but the difference isn’t that big. But when I see what it means to other people I think ‘wow, that’s how big it is’.
“I got a little reminder after the Brighton game when you see former players. It doesn’t happen that often. I’m not sure I’ve seen Gini Wijnaldum since he left. Bobby (Firmino) once, Fab(inho) once, Sadio (Mane) not. I saw Millie and Adam and it just feels so good to see the boys and that’s really what life is all about.”
Klopp, speaking to Sky Sports, added: “”This is a special group (of players). Whatever happens between now and the end of the season, I’ll be really happy when I see boys from this team again and can follow what they are doing. But obviously it’s better fun when you have a lot of positive memories and winning something this year would be really special for the whole group, for the club, but it was never for me. I can say that 100%.
“The moment I realise how big it is is the moment I stand on the bus and you look in the eyes of the people, that’s when you go ‘wow’ – it was worth every little sweat and everything you invested over the year.”
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
