In his final interview, Jurgen Klopp seems to be again on his Liverpool tenure

Jurgen Klopp is slouching in a chair in a room which overlooks the plush, bright green pitches at Liverpool’s training base.

He is in an adidas tracksuit, reflecting on what he calls a ‘super special story’ of how he fell in love with the club and the city. 

He recalls the glory nights but also the days where he felt like he ‘had a stroke’, such was the weight of disappointment. He relishes the chance to aim a couple of tongue-in-cheek jibes at broadcasters, referees and ‘that f******’ Thibaut Courtois.

Over an hour — his final sit-down chat before he sails off into the sunset — Mail Sport gets a window into what life will be like on the other side. He will spend more time with his grandson, splitting his days between Germany and a house he is building in Majorca. But his future plans can wait — now he is in the mood to reminisce.

‘In this industry, it is rare you create this kind of relationship to a club and city,’ he says. ‘Coming here and dedicating everything to it — which is what I had to do for the people — is really special.

Jurgen Klopp is nearing the end of a remarkable nine-year spell as manager of Liverpool

The outgoing head coach has taken the city into his heart and has been rewarded with the devotion of the Anfield faithful

But he is still haunted by fine margins, such as John Stones’ goal line clearance for Man City against Liverpool in 2019

‘The way people in England see it, you have to either love or hate Liverpool. Obviously it was very easy for me to fall in love with the club and the people. It is a super special story. Could it have been more successful? Yes.’ 

Klopp breaks into a fit of bellowing laughter then adds: ‘We did everything. I am self-critical but I do not reflect on this in a critical way. I am super happy with my time here. If you do not like it… who cares? I look back with a smile.’

Not every moment of his nine years and just shy of 500 matches prompted him to smile, though. ‘Minutes, millimetres, inches decided things for us,’ he says.

‘I know for people it makes a massive difference if I won more. But I couldn’t care less, (there were) 364 really enjoyable days in these seasons when we had 90-odd points and were nearly there. 

Then in the one moment it is awful, horrible, the block at Manchester City, the handball of Rodri, so many little things where you thought, “Oh my God”.

‘The screamer from Vinnie (Kompany, against Leicester in 2019). That ball, 999 of 1,000 goes everywhere in the stadium — and that night it is meant to be. Is it Sky Sports that has Vinnie’s screamer on adverts? You see it and think, “Are you kidding me?”

‘Seconds before that goal I was thinking, “Come on, Brendan (Rodgers), take off (James) Maddison, he’s tired”. He was five yards away and just had to move to block the shot. I was lying on my sofa with my hands in my pockets and a second later I felt like I’d had a stroke!’

Klopp is animating lying flat on his sofa as if in a coffin. But he says: ‘If my career didn’t teach me how to deal with setbacks, there is no career. And it goes for all of us. Don’t win the league by a point but win it the next year.

‘We were just going “whoosh”. We could have given up but it is not in my DNA. I suffer like crazy after these things, just not for long. I decided before the last Champions League final we lost: if it doesn’t happen, I will not waste a lifetime on suffering.   

Vincent Kompany scored an extraordinary goal from range to maintain Man City’s lead in 2019

Real Madrid stopper Thibaut Courtois was in inspired form as Real Madrid beat Liverpool in the 2022 Champions League final

Klopp’s side came agonisingly close to winning all four major trophies in 2022 but were pipped to the Premier League and lost in the Champions League final

We shoot (against Real Madrid) every three minutes but Thibaut Courtois has 12 hands! And then they score that goal and we talk about the one mistake where we could have defended better.

‘We didn’t punish them. Nothing to do with defending, just that f****** Courtois! We gave our all, overcame obstacles. What we did, together with the people, we restored belief and togetherness.’

There have always been rumours that Klopp has been at odds with Fenway Sports Group over finances but the German likens the transfer approach to when his son asks him for £50 and he settles with giving £25.

‘The Liverpool way,’ he says. ‘We do things properly. Other clubs with massive money, they try things but we need to do it this way because that is what the people believe in, historically. That is what I’m most proud of, we never overdid. We never tried too hard and then you don’t get the guarantee to win — and then get punished years later, these points deductions, stuff like that.

‘I am not sure they cheated on purpose but somehow they knew, “Mmmm, it’s probably not 100 per cent right but maybe we can get through that” and they couldn’t and I really like the way we did it.

‘(The club) is not an emergency case and you hear “beep, beep, beep” and it is close to (pretends to be a life support machine) “beeeeeeeep”. It is really healthy. That gives me the best feeling.’

Such is the intensity of high-level management, Klopp has barely had a moment of peace since leaving Borussia Dortmund.

The 56-year-old is looking forward to an extended break away from the game after leaving the Reds

‘I love what I do but it’s super intense. I was not a coach in the sense of you plan a session, go home and have a shower. I now want to have a proper break.’

In making this decision to leave, Klopp has put himself first — possibly for the first time in his career. So, what next? ‘Not planning a pre-season, not being involved in transfer talks,’ he says, laughing. ‘I have an invitation for the Champions League final. They said, “I don’t think he’ll come” but I will, I have nothing to do really!

‘At the Euros we’ll watch games. Being in Germany for a long time, meeting friends, nothing spectacular. Just easy-going. I’ll be at the Paralympics. Watching football… not being responsible.’

For 23 years Klopp has been responsible. Responsible for taking Mainz to the Bundesliga, responsible for back-to-back titles at Dortmund and a Champions League final, responsible for turning doubters into believers in Liverpool. He deserves to put his feet up.