Klopp Criticizes Booing of Alexander-Arnold and Defends His Legacy at Liverpool
Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp expressed his disappointment at the booing directed towards Trent Alexander-Arnold by some of the team’s fans.
Alexander-Arnold, who announced his departure from the club, was booed during the 2-2 draw against Arsenal.
The player is expected to join Real Madrid on a free transfer this summer.
I don’t want to tell anyone what they should think, but I can tell them what I think is wrong. I’m not telling you not to be disappointed, not to be angry, I’m telling you not to forget what he has done for this club. This club does not forget.
Jürgen Klopp
Klopp, who was Alexander-Arnold’s coach throughout his career at Liverpool, criticized the reaction of the fans at Anfield.
Klopp, visibly affected, added:
“I saw the game when it came on and heard the boos. I’m old, so I thought it might be my hearing, so I turned up the volume and the boos again. It took another 10 seconds to realize and I turned off the TV.”
“Honestly, I couldn’t have been more disappointed at this moment. This is not us, 100% not us.”
“He gave absolutely everything for this badge every day. Now, after 20 years, he decided he wanted to go somewhere else. If anyone should be angry about this, it’s the owners, but they’re not.”
Klopp echoed the statements of Mohamed Salah, who asked the fans to give Alexander-Arnold a proper farewell in the last match of the season at Anfield.
“I was surprised because that’s not how we react as Liverpool fans,” Salah said. “We shouldn’t react like that with anyone. We always appreciate the people who came here, even if it was for six months.”
“Imagine someone who gave everything for 20 years. It shouldn’t be like this and I hope it changes… because they deserve a farewell.”
