Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp: I am a good lesson that life goes on after losing

The German explains how losing has helped him and Liverpool become ultimate winners, why they will attack rather than defend the title next season and the pivotal changes he's made on Merseyside

Legends have been lining up to declare he should have a statue outside Anfield after delivering Liverpool’s first league title in 30 years. His road in the Freshfield area of Formby was temporarily dubbed Kloppstraße by the community.

Kenny Dalglish said he “epitomises everything the club stands for” and since Thursday evening, his phone hasn’t stopped pinging with notes of congratulations.

Millions around the world have been moved in unexplainable ways as a result of his actions.

But after making history, there will be little surprise that Jurgen Klopp “spent the weekend like normal” and is “already in the Manchester City mood” ahead of the game with Pep Guardiola's men.

That talent of keeping the big picture in focus has been a tool throughout the German’s management career and is part of the reason Liverpool, the champions of England, are 23 points clear at the summit.

The 53-year-old doesn’t stay on the canvas after a defeat, nor does he continue fist-pumping after victory. Klopp knows both results are fleeting: losses are all about lessons and the reaction, triumphs have to be a springboard to continued success.

Liverpool have mastered both those elements under his tutelage, striking back after heartache in the 2016 League Cup and Europa League finals as well as the 2018 Champions League showpiece to become continental and domestic champions. They built on lifting a sixth European Cup in Madrid - the first trophy under Klopp - by winning the Super Cup, Club World Cup and England’s top-flight.

The club have become a mirror of their manager, who also infused Mainz and Borussia Dortmund with bouncebackability and sustainability.

Klopp believes Liverpool would not have reached this point without having the shared experiences of crushing disappointment. He would not have become the man or leader he is today without it either.

Klopp is well versed in “losing big to prove you are a loser,” much to the chagrin of his wife, Ulla, who has had to endure the emotional turmoil in the stands.

He twice narrowly missed out on promotion with Mainz, before guiding the side to the Bundesliga for the first time in their history.

Dortmund lost the 2013 Champions League final to Bayern Munich on account of an 89th-minute strike by Arjen Robben.

“Even when you don't want defeats, when you have it it is very important to deal with it in the right way,” Klopp says.

“I had to learn that early in my life, especially my coaching life, and Ulla hates me for that.

“We had so many close failures: like with Mainz not going up by a point, not going up on goal difference, then getting up with the worst points tally ever; Dortmund not qualifying for Europe, then losing a Champions League final.

“I am a good example that life goes on. I would have had plenty of reasons for getting upset and saying 'I don't try any more'.

“Obviously it is not easy to go through these moments, but it is easier to deal with it because it is only information and if you use it right the feeling is good.

“If you don't use it right it helps not a little bit. I always deal with it and that is what we did here, that's what the boys did here, they buy into it and I really like all our responses.

“In some games striking back or in some seasons striking back.

“Last season, we didn't win the league with 97 points, but we won the Champions League and that helped.

“We had something to show and a lot of experience and a wonderful parade which helped a lot.

“But there was never a chance we would not try it again. But what that season showed was that you need to be nearly perfect to have a chance.

Klopp reacts on the night Liverpool clinched the title (Sky Sports)

“It was information which could put you under pressure again but it was information we shared early in pre-season and then we didn't talk about it anymore. It is not too difficult to be 100 per cent motivated for a game but if you approach a full season from the beginning like 'the 12th match we play there, it's an away game against them and that will be difficult to win'... you have to be in the moment and we were always in the moment and it worked out pretty well so far.”

Given the short turnaround to next season, it is not fanciful to imagine Liverpool picking up where they left off in 2020-21. City will undoubtedly elevate efforts to shift power back in their favour, while Chelsea are building an interesting project and Bruno Fernandes has refreshed and plastered many of Manchester United’s woes.

Can Liverpool follow up a phenomenal campaign by going back to back? “People may expect from us to win the league again,” Klopp said. “But I will not go into the season like this.

“I want us to play the best football we can play. I don't see it that you can win something if you defend something.

“We won it last year, nice, and now we will attack again. There is no guarantee that we will do it but we will try.

“People will be afraid that these boys will get lazy. These boys, like they showed at Crystal Palace, they cannot get lazy. It is just not in their nature. I am still here and have a little word with them and convince them before and after we play. We will not stop.

“We learned the biggest problem out there is our health. We knew it before but we felt it when people became ill. We didn't get ill or sick but still we were part of this disease. So this is the main thing of the moment and the rest we can deal with.

"And we waited 30 years for something and we did it. Now we are here and we want to celebrate differently in our moment. It is a special moment for me as well. I haven't seen any pictures from any celebrations, I don't want them.

“What I want is to stay home, stay safe and do the right things, still. I read in a German newspaper that 700 million people are Liverpool fans in the world. If that is true there will be a day that all 700 million fans can celebrate in the same moment with friends.

“Until then, 700 million people can celebrate exactly the same thing at home or in front of their house. Nowhere else.

“I want to see all the videos from the living rooms all over the world, how they reacted in the moment, when Willian scored the penalty or the final whistle at Chelsea, that would be really nice because these pictures are still possible, and I would like to see them.

“There are a lot of things to go for next season and hopefully the world will be in a better place then and people can come in the stadium again.

“Hopefully we can relax a little bit in our private life, besides the job we do. That is what concerns me more in the moment.

“The rest is football and football problems and we will have solutions.”

Klopp has always proven capable of cracking conundrums, as evidenced by how he has overhauled Liverpool's squad, altered the psychology of the team and reawakened the fanbase since his appointment in October 2015.

On the changes, he said: “For a start this team was exceptional, but it was always clear it would not be the team for five years later.

“From a character point of view these boys wanted to carry the expectation on their shoulders, the first thing I had to tell them was ‘thank you very much for trying but that's not possible so we have to get rid of that. If you can, start running with joy, working with joy’ and all of that stuff, because I saw that was not there.

“That was the most important thing we had to change. We had to bring the people onside.

“Don't forget it's not that long since we played a back pass and the whole stadium was like 'Ah, oh my god'. The back pass is not my favourite pass but it is a proper opportunity to keep the ball from time to time. That's absolutely OK.

“But here it was not allowed. It's not too long ago that if we are only 1-0 up there will come a set piece and it was clear it would either be a goal or a chance for the opponent which can change the momentum of the game.

“You cannot change it by saying something. We had to earn the trust and faith of the people. That is what we tried to do with effort. That in my view is the way to do it.

“You cannot get brilliant overnight, but you can change the effort overnight. That's possible. That's what we tried and that's what we did. It was most important for the start.

“Our work rate was not bad before but the reason for the work rate was different. The reason before was 'we had to do it otherwise we lose'. We changed it to 'We want to do it so we can win'.

“It is exactly the same amount of yards but one is much more positive and gives you a much better chance to achieve what you want.”

It gave Liverpool the opportunity, which they ruthlessly seized, to become the first British team to hold the European Cup, European Super Cup, World Club title and domestic league title simultaneously.