When Jurgen Klopp walked into Anfield the message was to turn “doubters to believers”.
But, in truth, he turned Liverpool fans into dreamers again. That’s why on an oddly-chilly early May night in 2019, thousands showed up to Anfield ready for something special when it should have been nothing more than going through the motions.
Barcelona arrived with arguably the best player in the world in tow in Lionel Messi. They were overly confident with a three-goal lead from the first leg at the Nou Camp. Their social media post read: “We score one, Liverpool need FIVE - and we’re going to get at least one… agreed?”
Lost in translation? Doubtful. But in the Anfield dressing room that night the message was clear. “We have to play without two of the best strikers in the world,” Klopp told his players that night as they prepared to play against the Spanish giants with no Mo Salah or Roberto Firmino.
“The world outside is saying it is not possible. And let’s be honest, it’s probably impossible. But because it’s you? Because it’s you, we have a chance.” The rest is history.
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Doubters had been turned into believers but without being dreamers of doing the impossible then nights like that simply wouldn’t be possible. Klopp had been at Liverpool for three-and-a-half years before that final. The Reds had lost three deciders and come up short in a Premier League title race.
Progress had been made but this was a club famous for success and not for second places. So while the Anfield crowd were believing and dreaming, outside there were still doubters.
Klopp felt it himself. Ever the optimist, there are times in press conferences in the lead up to the Champions League final in 2019 were he would admit he was aware about the noise of his final record.
Your turn! What is Jurgen Klopp's greatest moment as Liverpool manager? Give us your pick in the comments section
Jurgen Klopp turned Liverpool fans from doubters to believers and then dreamers (PA)The 2013 Champions League final, the 2014 and the 2015 German Cups with Borussia Dortmund were followed by a 2016 League Cup, a 2016 Europa League decider and, of course, the 2018 European Cup final with Liverpool. All ended in defeat, some more crushing than others. But he didn’t doubt himself.
There were times, he felt his players did question themselves. But while Barcelona was the night that nobody who was at Anfield that night or has any affinity to the red half of Merseyside will ever forget, it was the second leg at Bayern Munich earlier in the competition were belief they were now seriously among Europe’s best was solidified.
Liverpool had played out a goalless draw at Anfield against the Bundesliga giants and travelled to Germany as underdogs in the tie. They put Bayern to the sword at the Allianz to win 3-1 and cruise through. From that moment in the season, chests were a little more puffed out, according to one source close to the team at the time.
It was why after a chastening defeat at the Nou Camp, Klopp’s words weren’t just hollow. “There were so many moments when they could’ve easily given up, but they refused to quit,” Klopp said after. That night the believers were dreamers and those who still doubted Klopp were finally silenced in Madrid when Tottenham were seen off to end his run of final disappointments.
The 30-year league title drought for Liverpool would end 14 months later. Many would have thought Klopp was in his own dreamland when he said in his first press conference that he would deliver a title to Liverpool in four years.
It was a little longer than that, of course. But his fourth full season. Not even a global pandemic and the world shutting down could stop the Reds. “We all know damn well that this game is for dreamers, Klopp once signed off an article on the Players’ Tribune.
He made sure of that for Liverpool.
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