No matter how often Jurgen Klopp is compelled to witness it, the outcome remains unchanged.All the emotions he experienced while first observing the incident nervously from his living room sofa come rushing back.
On May 6, 2019, with 20 minutes left, Manchester City seemed to have run out of ideas to score against Leicester City and surpass Klopp’s Liverpool in the Premier League table.Then Vincent Kompany decides to advance forward and… well, the rest is history.
“Occasionally, I see Vinny’s stunning goal and think, ‘Seriously?’,” says Klopp, visibly pained. “Just seconds before that goal, I was thinking, ‘Come on Brendan (Rodgers), take (James) Maddison off, he’s exhausted’. He was just five yards away and only needed to move to block the shot.”City’s narrow 1-0 victory ultimately saw Liverpool, despite amassing a then club-record of 97 points, trailing behind Pep Guardiola’s side by just one point the following weekend.
This demoralizing blow was hardly ideal preparation for the Reds, who faced the daunting task of overturning a three-goal deficit against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final just 24 hours later. After a season filled with promise, Klopp’s team seemed destined to end it empty-handed.However, the reaction to Kompany’s goal triggered a remarkable turnaround for Liverpool. First, they conquered Barcelona in what became Klopp’s favorite night as Reds boss, clinching the Champions League title.
The following season, they ended a 30-year wait for the Premier League championship and secured their first-ever FIFA Club World Cup title.Defeats, perhaps more than victories, molded Klopp’s tenure, notably the heartbreak of the 2018 Champions League final. These setbacks fueled the team’s resolve and determination to succeed. Such failures made subsequent triumphs all the more gratifying.leadership, acknowledging that he’s never read a book on the subject but relies on his experiences.
He emphasizes the importance of resilience in dealing with setbacks, drawing parallels to his own career disappointments. Despite suffering, he refuses to dwell on losses for too long, maintaining that there are more important things in life than football.
Looking back on the 2022 defeat to Real Madrid, Klopp remains pragmatic. Despite Liverpool’s dominance, he acknowledges the mastery of Real Madrid’s defense and the brilliance of their goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois.
He expresses frustration with pundits who focus solely on defensive errors, overlooking the team’s numerous missed opportunities.
Klopp accepts the nature of the game, where the team that scores ultimately wins, emphasizing the need to move on rather than dwell on perceived injustices.
