Jurgen Klopp insists he will not miss the Merseyside derby as he gears up for his final clash with Everton as Liverpool manager.
Klopp will be stepping down from his role at Anfield at the end of the season after almost nine years in charge. He will be leading the Reds in the Merseyside derby for one last time on Wednesday.
Despite this being his final derby, Klopp is looking forward to leaving the pressure behind. He admits that the high stakes of the game make it difficult to enjoy and he has other things on his mind.
Speaking ahead of the clash at Goodison Park, Klopp said: “The pressure around the derby is intense. Why should the joy be greater than the pressure? Winning is great, but I don’t miss the pressure surrounding it. It’s not enjoyable.”
“Others may find it exciting to watch, but someone has to make the tough decisions and handle the pressure. It’s not something I will miss.”
“I work constantly while others just watch the games. Even after the game ends, I can’t switch off. It’s not a great situation to be in all the time.”
“Some may enjoy it more than me, but it’s something I won’t miss.”
Klopp has only lost one out of 18 Merseyside derbies, albeit behind closed doors during the Covid pandemic. He has never lost at Goodison Park.
A win on Wednesday would mark Liverpool’s 100th victory in the fixture’s history, adding another successful accolade for Klopp to end his tenure with.
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