Joe Gomez has effusively paid tribute to Jurgen Klopp, claiming that Liverpool can consider themselves “lucky” to call him their manager.
Klopp won the first trophy of his three-and-a-half year spell in charge on Saturday, beating Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League final.
The former Borussia Dortmund coach joins Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Rafael Benitez in leading Liverpool to European Cup glory, with this their sixth triumph in the competition.
Klopp has gradually transformed Liverpool’s fortunes since his appointment in October 2015 and Gomez believes it is the German’s personality is the key to his success.
“I think it is just his energy. Not just the tactical side of things but him as a person, that’s why there is such a connection,” the defender said.
“That is why we want to play for him, why we want to celebrate with him when we win, because he is one of the reasons we do it.
“It is special. He brings so much value to us and he shows us what it means to play for this club.
“I am quite young but I know I am blessed to have a manager like him. I don’t think there are many out there who do what he does. We are lucky.”
“All of us have so much gratitude to have a manager like him,” Gomez added. “For me personally he has done so much for me and all the lads think the same.
“He is an unbelievable manager and someone we owe a lot to. It shows the togetherness in the group and how much we all value him as a manager.”
Liverpool were crowned champions of Europe despite long, recent spells outside of the continent’s top club competition.
The 2018-19 Champions League campaign was only Liverpool’s third in nine seasons, and their time away from the top table made it easier for clubs to tempt their best players away.
During that time, the likes of Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho were lost to Barcelona, while Fernando Torres joined Chelsea and Raheem Sterling left for Manchester City.
Gomez believes that inability to keep hold of the very best will now be a thing of the past, as Champions League victory has re-established Liverpool at the very top of the game.
“That is the main thing,” he said. “That’s what we all know. We are here together to stay and I think the boundaries are limitless.
“Who knows [what we can achieve]? We just have to keep grounded, stay focused and keep doing what we are doing and hopefully we can get some more.
“I think we believe that. The manager said we are a team together, staying this way, and that is the main thing.
“We have a foundation which will stay and only get stronger so all our belief in what we can do is at an all-time high.”
