Klopp Declares Himself ‘Super Happy’ with His Liverpool Legacy

Liverpool's German manager Juergen Klopp celebrates after his team victory at the end of the English League Cup quarter-final football match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 20, 2023. (AFP)
Liverpool's German manager Juergen Klopp celebrates after his team victory at the end of the English League Cup quarter-final football match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 20, 2023. (AFP)
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Klopp Declares Himself ‘Super Happy’ with His Liverpool Legacy

Liverpool's German manager Juergen Klopp celebrates after his team victory at the end of the English League Cup quarter-final football match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 20, 2023. (AFP)
Liverpool's German manager Juergen Klopp celebrates after his team victory at the end of the English League Cup quarter-final football match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 20, 2023. (AFP)

Outgoing manager Juergen Klopp's nine-year spell at Liverpool may have included some big near-misses, but the German manager said he has no regrets for the ones that got away.

Under Klopp, Liverpool lost the Premier League by a single point in 2018-19 - but they roared back to win it the following season.

They also lost the Champions League final in 2017-18 only to clinch that title the next year.

The initial setbacks did nothing to weaken his resolve, Klopp told "The Times."

"If my career didn’t teach me how to deal with setbacks, then there is no career for that," Klopp told the paper ahead of his last game as Liverpool manager on Sunday, at home against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

"Millimeters, inches decided things for us. I know for people it makes a massive difference if I won more. If I win three, I am definitely a successful manager. If I win one in nine years, people can argue it. But I couldn't care less.

"From time to time you get it and from time to time they get it. I'm at peace with it."

Klopp said he felt responsible for the process of change Liverpool would have to go through following his departure but added that he knew this was unavoidable.

"There's a lot of uncertainty for the people, and I didn't want that for them. But I knew if I did it in another year or another two years, it would be exactly the same for these people," he said.

"That cannot be the reason for not doing it. I had to overcome that. I had to think of myself first, which doesn't happen a lot, actually."

During his tenure Liverpool also won a Club World Cup title, an FA Cup and two League Cups, and the 56-year-old said that overall he was happy with the memories he has made at Liverpool.

"Could it have been more successful? Yes. With me? I don't know. We did absolutely everything. I am very self-critical but I do not reflect on this in a critical way. I am super happy with my time here... I look back with a smile," he said.



Rodgers Hoping to Complete Celtic Swoop for Arsenal's Tierney

Soccer Football - Champions League - Arsenal Training - Arsenal Training Centre, London Colney, Britain - January 21, 2025 Arsenal's Kieran Tierney, manager Mikel Arteta and Maldini Kacurri during training Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/File photo
Soccer Football - Champions League - Arsenal Training - Arsenal Training Centre, London Colney, Britain - January 21, 2025 Arsenal's Kieran Tierney, manager Mikel Arteta and Maldini Kacurri during training Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/File photo
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Rodgers Hoping to Complete Celtic Swoop for Arsenal's Tierney

Soccer Football - Champions League - Arsenal Training - Arsenal Training Centre, London Colney, Britain - January 21, 2025 Arsenal's Kieran Tierney, manager Mikel Arteta and Maldini Kacurri during training Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/File photo
Soccer Football - Champions League - Arsenal Training - Arsenal Training Centre, London Colney, Britain - January 21, 2025 Arsenal's Kieran Tierney, manager Mikel Arteta and Maldini Kacurri during training Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/File photo

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is hoping a deal can be agreed with Arsenal to expedite Kieran Tierney's return to Glasgow before the end of the transfer window.

The Scotland international is set to return to Celtic, who he left for the Gunners in 2019, on a free transfer with his contract at the Emirates expiring at the end of the season.

However, the Scottish champions are pushing to bring Tierney home before the window closes next week, AFP reported.

"I think we're agreed that it will definitely take place in the summer. If we can do it beforehand, then great," said Rodgers on Tuesday.

"I don't want to speak too much on it with the greatest respect, because he's not a Celtic player here now with us.

"But if we were able to do it, of course, we would like to do that, but that's out of our control at this moment in time."

Tierney has fallen down the pecking order at Arsenal but four of his five appearances this season have come this month as Mikel Arteta battles an injury crisis.

Celtic are already assured of a place in the Champions League play-off round ahead of Wednesday's visit to Aston Villa.

It is the first time in 12 years that the Hoops have reached the knockout phase of Europe's elite competition, but Rodgers said his side's work is not complete.

"It's a great achievement to be in the top 24, I think, if you look at the economics at this level," added the former Liverpool boss.

"The players have worked very, very hard and do what we set out to do, which was to firstly arrive in the play-offs, the players have done that. So it's great.

"But our job's not complete in this series of eight games. We come here to a great venue. It's a fantastic team, but we want to come and play to the level that we know we can do."

Celtic, however, will have to live without three key players from the side that beat Young Boys last week to secure qualification.

Kyogo Furuhashi has left to join Rennes, Daizen Maeda is suspended, while Cameron Carter-Vickers misses out through injury.

And Rodgers is keen to ensure he has a replacement for Kyogo, who scored 85 goals in 165 games for the club, before the end of the window.

"He's been a real iconic player for the club, he's done brilliantly during his time.

"It's about getting a replacement, he did a great job, but he wanted to leave.

"We have known for a number of months. Clearly we wouldn't have wanted to sell him but he made it clear he wanted to move and when that's the case, we have to find the best solution for the club."