Jurgen Klopp feels only Liverpool supporters would turn out in their thousands to cheer their heroes a day after losing the Champions League final.
The Reds went into Saturday’s showpiece against Real Madrid as favourites but came way on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline. It meant that a season in which they were chasing an unprecedented quadruple ended with two trophies. But they still took an open-top bus tour through the streets of Liverpool to salute their adoring fans.
After the disappointment of losing to Los Blancos, it would have been easy for fans to stay at home on Sunday. But the players and staff were greeted by a wall of red as the vociferous fans paid tribute to their achievements.
And, speaking to the Liverpool website, Klopp pulled no punches in his assessment of the situation.
“Without a shadow of a doubt, no club in the world – this world – that they lost the Champions League final the night before and the people arrive here in the shape they are, the mood they are. Absolutely outstanding,” he said.
“This is the best club in the world – I don’t care what other people think.”
And the German tactician confessed he had no idea how many people would line the streets after the Paris woe.
He added: “I wasn’t sure what we can expect. We spoke about it before, ‘What do we do?’
“You have to plan this kind of thing. You can’t just decide to have a parade. But I hoped that we find something like this, it’s absolutely incredible.”
Klopp focuses on positives after worrying night in Paris
It was not just events on the pitch that left the club disappointed. There were chaotic scenes in the build-up to the match as fans and media approached the Stade de France.
The UK’s culture secretary has urged Uefa to formally investigate the incidents. Klopp could not believe what happened in the French capital and paid tribute to the way all connected with Liverpool FC have immediately bounced back.
“I’m proud of the players but I’m proud of these people, to be honest. Unbelievable,” he continued. “Yesterday in the stadium some things happened that nobody understood, our families were in trouble, all these kinds of things.
“Now we come here and see this, when you see the eyes of the people, it’s incredible. That’s the best sign you can get: you don’t have to win, you just need to put all that you have in, really throw everything on the pitch and the people of Liverpool love you.”