Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PREMIER LEAGUE RED LETTER DAY FOR RIVALS
Klopp wrote to United fan to prove their rivalry is only on the pitch
JURGEN KLOPP says his heart-warming letter to a young Manchester United fan was inspired by a desire to see their rivalry with Liverpool kept on the pitch.
The Reds boss has been greeted with an outpouring of praise – even from his rival club’s support – for the reply to 10-year-old Old Traffordobsessed Daragh Curley, from Donegal in Ireland, who pleaded for him to make Liverpool lose.
Klopp admitted he was warmed by the “cheeky” approach from the youngster, and explained he wanted to reply, to show that the rivalry with United should be inspired by common respect, not hatred.
“I like working for Liverpool and I like the rivalry we have (with United), but I love even more if we can keep that on the pitch,” he said.
“Apart from that, they can be happy and we can be happy, and I hope Daragh is now happy. He looked like it in the picture I saw later!”
In his letter, Klopp said that while his responsibility to millions of Reds fans around the world meant he couldn’t make Liverpool lose, he felt sure that Daragh wouldn’t mind. He wrote: “I hope that if we are lucky enough to win more games, and maybe even lift some more trophies, you will not be too disappointed because although our clubs are great rivals, we also share a great respect for one another. “This, to me, is what football is all about. Take care and good luck, Jurgen.”
Klopp has always expressed great respect for United, and condemned some of the more extreme hatred among fans of both clubs.
In the past, he has spoken of the inspiration he takes from the ‘healthy’ rivalry the two giants of the global game enjoy, and admitted he thought the 10-year-old’s letter – for a school project – was “smart”.
In it, the schoolboy (left) suggested he couldn’t bear Liverpool to win the title. “Liverpool are winning too many games. If you win nine more then you have the best unbeaten run in English football. Being a United fan that is very sad,” he wrote.
“So the next time Liverpool play, please make them lose. You should just let the other team score. I hope I have convinced you to not win the league or any other match again.”
Klopp was speaking ahead of the game against West Ham on Monday night, where victory combined with defeat for Manchester City at Leicester today, would leave the Anfield side needing just nine more points to confirm the title.
And he insisted he wouldn’t be trying to convert Daragh to the Anfield cause: “I have no problem with supporters of other clubs. I know it’s a free world, so we can choose our club. I don’t think everybody has to be a Liverpool fan.”
And he signed off by saying to the schoolboy: “(You have) passion for football and your club – Manchester United are lucky to have you.”