Jürgen Klopp did not expect Steven Gerrard to be present in the charity match between the Liverpool Legends and Ajax Legends last Saturday. The current head coach of the British superpower spoke to the Ajax club channel in the run-up to the meeting at Anfield and sounded quite impressed when Gerrard reported.
Klopp is the center of attention this season. The German has already won the League Cup with Liverpool, has the same number of points in the Premier League as leader Arsenal and is in the quarter-finals of the Europa League with his team. Klopp hopes to win both the league title and the Europa League final victory to end his time as Liverpool manager on a grand note. After all, he announced earlier this year that he was in his last months as manager of The Reds. Klopp is devastated after all those years of fanatic coaching and is opting for a ‘sabbatical’ after this season.
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Despite the fatigue, he was ‘normal’ at the party last Saturday for the meeting between the Liverpool Legends and Ajax Legends. Klopp now knows Ajax very well. “When you built the Johan Cruijff ArenA years ago, I am sure I was there with my son,” he tells in the Ajax Special about the match at Anfield. “And the best part was that the stadium was then used for winter sports. I’m not sure if they still do that nowadays because the roof is closed, but we skated in the Ajax stadium. That was the last time I was there until I beat you with Dortmund,” the manager recalled. Klopp uses the word ‘smashing’; After all, ‘his’ Borussia Dortmund won 1-4 in Amsterdam in 2012.
Ten years later, Klopp, this time as coach of Liverpool, was again far too strong for Ajax (0-3). The German has gained many experiences since his first visit to the Johan Cruijff ArenA, but was clearly impressed by Gerrard’s presence last Saturday. “It is awesome. Oh my god, Stevie is playing,” is what it sounds like when the club icon reports to Anfield. “Now the real stars arrive. Until now there were only defenders,” said the German manager. Gerrard himself was eagerly looking forward to the match between the Legends of Liverpool and Ajax. “I always look forward to playing in front of these fans. I’m playing with some former teammates and we’re ready. The best crowd, the most beautiful stadium. We are playing against Ajax, a special club. A nice challenge.”
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🔗 Ajax Legend (67) makes a big impression: ‘The best footballer in the world at his age’
A 67 year old legend of Ajax receives a lot of compliments on social media for his play and fitness during a charity match against the Liverpool Legends.
