Manchester City star Ilkay Gundogan has shared his WhatsApp messages to and from Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp last May. The two previously worked together.
Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp suffered heartbreak in the Premier League last season. Despite finding themselves 10 points back at the start of the year, the Reds managed to push the title race with Manchester City to the final day.
In fact, they pushed it to the final 15 minutes. Only an Aston Villa collapse from 2-0 up against City within that final period stopped Liverpool from winning the title.
And yet, Klopp appeared to hold few hard feelings. He even sent a message to Ilkay Gundogan, the City match-winner and former player of Klopp’s at Borussia Dortmund.
“Kloppo wrote me at 9.26 pm: ‘Congratulations’ and a heart to go with it,” Gundogan told BILD.
“I replied: ‘Thank you! You also for the great season and good luck for the Champions League final’ – and a heart too. There are some priorities and Kloppo is one of them.”
Gundogan shares WhatsApp messages with Jurgen Klopp
You wouldn’t expect anything less from Klopp towards one of his former players. While the Liverpool boss can be ’emotional’ on the sidelines during games, his relationship with those he works with has always been exemplary.
That appears to continue even when those players cost him the league title, as Gundogan did back in May. It’s also telling that Gundogan almost expected the message – and prioritises his relationship with Klopp.
At the end of the day, Liverpool have a special manager in the German. The way he connects with people – both players and fans – is truly remarkable and something very few pull off.
We’ll hope that Klopp is the one receiving messages of congratulations come the end of the season. Even if they won’t be for winning the Premier League title.
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