Despite now having to consider the prospect of another Champions League win, Jurgen Klopp somehow always manages to maintain his unflappable demeanor – “My reputation? I couldn’t care less,” he said.
The manager was deflecting talk about individual glory despite clearly being able to speak from an elevated position of some comfort as his status is already exalted with his impeccable record the last few seasons.
Clearly the undisputed idol of the Liverpool fanbase while also enjoying the admiration of fans globally, he was voted the LMA’s Manager of the Year by his peers, with the award presented by Sir Alex Ferguson whom he could join in a select group to win the Champions League twice with English clubs. The only other members are Brian Clough and Bob Paisley, whose three triumphs place him at the top of the list.
Win, lose or draw against Real Madrid in Paris, Klopp already has a hat-trick of his own as he has reached a third Champions League final in five seasons, which again cements his already impeccable reputation as one of the foremost managers in existence.
“Three times in five years is exceptional. If we can do that again it would be six in 10 which is ridiculous.” A throwaway line or perhaps a statement of intent from the cheeky manager? With Klopp, you’d never know and can only guess at his true intention.
Klopp can now proudly and contentedly thrive in the moment while gazing confidently into the future. Liverpool are unbeaten in the key matches that matter most in 2022. He has also extended his contract until 2026 and has signed Luis Diaz and Fabio Carvalho.
The undeniable element is that Liverpool are stronger now. Four years ago, they finished 25 points behind Manchester City. Now the deficit is just one. A really remarkable improvement.
Now Salah and Virgil van Dijk are also fit after some earlier injury scares, Fabinho is back in training and tings are also “surprisingly good” regarding Thiago Alcantara.
Noticeably too questions about Klopp’s past nowadays are already paired with the context that he is a Champions League winner. His 2018 showpiece ended a trend of final defeats that began with Borussia Dortmund.
“It is nice I don’t have to talk about the last six finals I lost but it is part of my history, I cannot change that.”
Liverpool are now again about to face the club with more history and heraldry in this competition than anyone else although the Los Merengues most unexpectedly added to it implausibli when they lost to minnows Sheriff Tiraspol in the group stages and then mounting a series of memorable fightbacks in the knockout rounds to claw their way back into contention.
This dramatically inspiring surge has added to the legend of supremo Carlo Ancelotti. After Klopp was finally able to share a managerial record by reaching a fourth Champions League final, the venerable Italian again pipped him by making it to his fifth.
Ancelotti has it on record to have won a Champions League final against Liverpool. He has also lost another, in 2005, in arguably one of the greatest comebacks of all in this premier European competition.
Now Klopp’s team are in a third, perhaps with three more to come. It may be a feat of managerial wizardry but the German said: “We’re not here by magic.”