ReactionAndy Robertson reflects on 'special journey' under Jürgen Klopp
Andy Robertson says Jürgen Klopp will always have ‘a special place in all our hearts’ as Liverpool bid an emotional farewell to their outgoing manager at Anfield on Sunday.
Klopp signed off as Reds boss with a 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, in what was his 491st and final game in charge.
In front of a crowd of 60,059, and with Anfield bathed in glorious sunshine, first-half goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Jarell Quansah delivered one last win for the German, who was given a rapturous reception from supporters before, during and after.
Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com post-match, Robertson reflected on the ‘special journey’ he has shared with Klopp since arriving on Merseyside from Hull City in 2017.
“You have to enjoy these moments,” he said. “It’s always about the team, always about the whole club, but on occasion it becomes about individuals. Obviously we’ve had it with people like Bobby [Firmino] leaving, Millie [James Milner] getting a send-off, but now it’s the big one, the boss having to go.
“He deserves everything he gets. Everyone loves him here, you can tell that. I think we could have sold the stadium out maybe 10 or 20 times over, but that’s what he’s created here.
“From the minute he came through the door, we’ve been on a special journey.”
Robertson continued: “I came as a relatively young person, 23 I think I was, with no kids. That’s obviously changed, off the pitch, and he’s always been one of the first ones there for me.
“In terms of difficult moments, good moments I’ve had off the pitch, he’s always been one of the first to pick up the phone or give us a text to congratulate or to see if I’m OK.
“That’s what people maybe don’t see. As a manager you can speak all day about him, and everybody could, but as a person he’s done a lot for all of us and that’s where he will always hold a special place in our hearts for that.
“Now we have to move on, but not until we give him a send-off. He’s a special person for this club and he deserves every moment he gets.
“He’ll do it in typical Klopp fashion [and] try to not to make it about himself, but we won’t let him tonight!”
Robertson admitted that even though there was nothing riding on Sunday’s game in terms of league position, with Liverpool having secured third place in the Premier League already, there had been an extra desire among the players to ensure the Klopp era at Anfield finished on a high note.
“He tried to make it not about him in the pre-match and stuff like that,” said the left-back. “But I think as soon as he heard the reception, even coming in on the bus, I don’t think that was possible!
“He tried to make the team meeting as professional as possible, like he always has, but we all knew that today was going to be about him, and we all wanted to put on a performance for him more than anyone today.
“We got the win, [we] could have scored a couple more goals, but it is what it is, and now he gets the send-off he deserves.”
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