Jurgen Klopp has spoken very warmly indeed about one of his former Liverpool players.
Having kept a tight-knit group together throughout the Reds’ successful 2018-2022 years, Klopp’s Liverpool has often felt like a family.
And speaking to Sky Sports ‘Secrets of Success’ podcast today, Jurgen’s words only serve to reaffirm such a notion.
Detailing some of his methods for keeping a squad of players happy, the manager is asked how he’s able to keep a smile on the face of those who maybe aren’t playing as regularly, with Divock Origi used as an example.
“Divock is a very special person, I love him to bits,” Klopp gushed. “I’m not sure how often I apologised to him that he’s not playing more. He was a massive part of this team – a massive part of this team – and the team let him feel that. He felt completely comfortably. During the week [in training] one of the most important players we had and during the weekend still, but didn’t play as often as he should have.
“That we had the relationship we had for the long time we worked together was much more up to Divock than to me. I would have understood one thousand per cent if he would have said at one point ‘hey boss it’s a nice spell but it’s not enough, I have to go now’. But he wanted to be part of this incredible club. He didn’t get any special treatment, stuff like this he just took it like it was and that made him a Liverpool legend. He will be remembered here forever. We wish him just the best for the rest of his career.”
Klopp hails Origi attitude
Origi’s story at Liverpool will forever be an example to those who perhaps aren’t getting the game-time they feel they deserve.
As Klopp mentions, Divock could have sulked and demanded to leave the club a few times. He actually did leave in 2017 – on-loan to Wolfsburg – and barely played during the first half of 2018/19.
But instead of getting upset, the Belgian dug in and completely turned things around.
He actually didn’t play all that much during that 2018/19 season. But he turned up in big moments to score some of the most famous goals in Liverpool history.
And Klopp is right- he does go down as a Reds legend. Maybe not a conventional one in the sense of your Steven Gerrard’s, your Mohamed Salah’s or Kenny Dalglish’s. But he deserves his place in Liverpool folklore.
Had he upped sticks and moved on to a lesser club, he may played more but Origi wouldn’t have found that footballing purpose.
So, as he aims to build his next great Liverpool team, Divock’s story is important to tell. These new players can create their own legacies at Anfield, every path is different.
As for Origi, he himself has recently been speaking of the love he feels from Liverpool fans. Now struggling to make an impact with Nottingham Forest, the 28-year-old will always be associated with his time with the Reds. And we – and Jurgen – love him for it.
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