Jurgen Klopp paid a glowing tribute to outgoing Liverpool icon Roberto Firmino which praised his ‘incredible football brain’ at the player’s leaving party on Sunday evening.
The player looked visibly touched by his manager’s words as Klopp gave a short speech to tables packed with his team-mates and their families, the coaching teams, and Liverpool staff members.
Firmino is leaving Anfield after calling time on a decorated eight-season spell at the club which has seen him win the Premier League, the Champions League, the Carabao Cup, and the FA Cup under Klopp.
On Saturday, Firmino was unable to hold back tears as he said goodbye to the Anfield faithful after the Reds’ final home game of the 2022-23 campaign.
In a fairytale twist, Firmino scored the equaliser as Liverpool drew with Aston Villa 1-1 without which, Liverpool’s hopes of playing Champions League football next season would have been snuffed out after top-four rivals Manchester United beat Bournemouth 1-0.
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Jurgen Klopp paid tribute to Roberto Firmino at the player’s leaving party on Sunday evening
The 31-year-old provided an emotional moment at Anfield when he equalised against Villa
In his speech, Klopp shared the respect he feels for the 31-year-old, calling him a ‘really special’ player.
‘You are so football smart, in training sessions you are the first to get the exercise,’ Klopp began.
‘It’s like you saw it once: “Ah, okay, go for it”. It’s really special and it makes you the player you are, with all the technical stuff, but your football brain is incredible.
‘That’s all good and makes you the player you are.’
On Saturday, Klopp admitted that it had been difficult to prepare for the match against Villa knowing that it would be the final appearance for valued players such as Firmino and his team-mate James Milner, who has been linked with a move to Brighton when he leaves as a free agent this summer.
‘Bobby is a wonderful story but the day was not easy for us,’ Klopp said of Firmino’s goal.
‘We love these boys and it was clear we had to prepare something for them. The game was super-important but the first half was not great – we were too much in a rush and it was clear we had to calm down.’
Jürgen Klopp’s speech to Bobby Firmino ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Xqyp05Jr5q
— The Anfield Talk (@TheAnfieldTalk) May 22, 2023
Saturday saw Firmino given a guard of honour, along with other departing players this season
Anfield unveiled new tributes to the player, who has won six trophies for the Reds since 2015
In their performances, Klopp added, ‘the two boys showed what we will miss’.
A dinner was just one of the features of the leaving party, which saw Firmino posing for photographs with his team-mates and the raft of silverware the Brazilian has won with the club since joining from Hoffenheim in 2015.
After Klopp’s speech, Firmino and his team-mates made for the stage, where the forward donned a Liverpool shirt over his formal wear and Jordan Henderson led the room in a rousing round of the player’s ‘Si Senor’ chant.
Firmino’s future away from the club is yet to be confirmed, but he has been heavily linked to LaLiga champions Barcelona, with a deal for the free agent reportedly already agreed.
SOURCE: dailymail.co.uk
