Jurgen Klopp made it clear how he felt on Liverpool fans being unable to celebrate with a parade immediately after the club's 2019-20 Premier League triumph.
Klopp was at the helm of Liverpool foom 2015 to 2024, with Arne Slot having been tabbed to continue the winning ways after the German departed Anfield. The Reds didn't miss a beat with the Dutchman in charge, with Liverpool looking to nab its second league title in the last six seasons.
As Liverpool looks to celebrate another title, Klopp made it clear that he was upset for the fans who had not seen their club win the ultimate glory in decades. The Reds' glory came at a time when the world was grappling with the coronavirus pandemic, which did not allow large gatherings in hopes of slowing and reducing infection rates among citizens.
Speaking with Sky Germany, Klopp highlighted that while the fans and players' safety is paramount, the club should celebrate it in due time, once it was deemed safe. "That you can't celebrate in the way you've always dreamed of, that's not nice, I totally understand that," the 57-year-old was quoted saying at the time, per Liverpool Echo.
"I feel the same way. It's not that my ideal is to celebrate alone in the stadium, then just drive home. It wasn't like that when you thought about it. But that cannot be changed now. Why should we now make a big deal about something that can't be changed? There comes a day when life will get back to normal.
"When someone has found the vaccine, when someone has found a solution to the problem, when infection rates are zero or below - that day will come eventually. Then we have the right to celebrate what we want to celebrate on that day."
Klopp and the rest of the club were able to be part of a parade in 2022, which stared at 4pm and was nine miles long, in commemoration of the Reds winning the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup. The parade came after Liverpool lost to Real Madrid in the Champions League final in Paris.
Despite moving on from the club, it is clear Liverpool still is close to Klopp's heart. The former manager made it known that he will be among those celebrating Liverpool's Premier League win, though he is wanting to keep the attention away from him and directed solely on the players and staff.
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Fanatics"The plan is [to be in Liverpool] but not on the bus, I will be there with the people I saw on the bus [when Liverpool had their last trophy parade]," Klopp admitted in early March. "I will be there where the people are. That’s the idea, but we will see."
The German also added during a fundraiser in Cape Town: "I will be there for the last game. I didn’t want to go earlier to be honest because I didn’t want to jinx it! They win all the time and I’m the first time in the stadium and they lose! So, I’ll go there when it’s decided."
