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- Klopp鈥檚 men turn their attention to the Champions League on Tuesday when they face RB Leipzig in the first leg of their last 16 tie
LONDON: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insisted he still has the energy to turn around the English champions鈥� season after three consecutive defeats ended the Reds鈥� realistic chances of defending their Premier League title.
Klopp鈥檚 men turn their attention to the Champions League on Tuesday when they face RB Leipzig in the first leg of their last 16 tie.
Social media speculation after Liverpool鈥檚 3-1 defeat to Leicester that Klopp could walk away was dismissed by the German, who thanked supporters who placed a banner reading 鈥淵NWA (You鈥檒l Never Walk Alone) Jurgen鈥� outside the club鈥檚 Anfield stadium on Sunday.
鈥淚 might not look like this, my beard gets more and more grey, but I am full of energy,鈥� said Klopp at his pre-match press conference on Monday. 鈥淭he situation is a challenge, an interesting challenge.
鈥淲e will sort it. We will sort it by playing football, by being even more together, by learning more than you can learn in each season we played before.鈥�
It was reported last week that Klopp鈥檚 mother Elisabeth had died last month at the age of 81. Due to coronavirus restrictions, the Liverpool boss was not able to return to his native Germany for the funeral.
The same restrictions mean the match with Leipzig has been moved to Hungarian capital Budapest with Liverpool not offered an elite sport exemption from the German authorities.
鈥淭he last thing I want to do is talk about private things. Privately we had a tougher time. That is not just the last three weeks but a much longer time and we always deal with it as a family,鈥� added Klopp.
鈥淭hanks for all the support. I am very grateful for these type of things but nobody has to worry about me.鈥�
At 20 years Klopp鈥檚 junior, Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann is seen as the heir to his crown as one of Europe鈥檚 best managers.
At just 33, Nagelsmann already has a wealth of experience having led Leipzig to the Champions League semifinals last season, knocking out Tottenham and Atletico Madrid
on the way.
The Germans got the better of Manchester United to reach the knockout stages this season and are Bayern Munich鈥檚 closest challengers in the Bundesliga.
鈥淛ulian is an extraordinary talent,鈥� added Klopp. 鈥淗e鈥檚 still young as a coach, but he鈥檚 already proven everything you can as a manager. He鈥檚 young, fresh but still experienced and serious.
鈥淎n outstanding manager and when we are all old, he will be even better.鈥�