Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has insisted he “doesn’t give a s**t” about criticisms of his celebrations after games.
Mikel Arteta and Arsenal came under fire for their festivities after beating Liverpool earlier this month, although many hit back at what has been dubbed the ‘celebration police’ for having an issue with anyone celebrating a victory.
Arteta’s actions have also been compared to Klopp, who famously fist-pumps in front of the Anfield crowd after picking up three points. The Liverpool boss was targeted by critics after doing so to celebrate the recent 4-1 win over Luton Town.
“I heard the discussions – that Mikel over-celebrated the win against us. That definitely did not come from me,” Klopp told the media.
“Everybody can do whatever. I didn’t invent fist-pumps and I don’t have the copyright on it and I don’t want it. You do what you do for yourself and your people. What the outside world thinks about it, I couldn’t give a s**t, to be honest. And you can write that exactly like that.
“This is for us and nobody else. Who likes it, likes it, and who doesn’t like it, doesn’t like it. You can make what you want of my celebrations.”
Klopp hopes to bring out those celebrations on Sunday when Liverpool head to Wembley for the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea, but he does not want his imminent exit from the club to come into play.
“I want to win on Sunday but not for me or my trophy cabinet,” he explained. “It is for the boys, for the club, for the people. That is much more important and everything will go on.
“What we are doing at the moment is writing a wonderful book, I would say. We wrote and we are still writing a wonderful book and when I leave we close that book, put it on the shelf and then someone else will write a wonderful book. That is the idea. I will not leave anything inside. I will give absolutely everything until the last second.
“Yes, there is space for some chapters. It is long. I am not there and writing the resume already. Not at all. I am 100% in trying to create a few special memories on top of what we have done.
“We will see what is possible, but the basis we created so far – come on, 60 points is an extraordinary amount of points with all the things that have gone on. And we all know it should be 61 or 63! We all know that! It is so special and let’s keep going. Whatever happens happens and as long as we can influence games we should give it a proper try. The red part of Wembley should be rocking. That would be really, really nice. This team deserves it. This team deserves each push. These boys will throw their heart and soul on the pitch. I know that.”
