Gillingham defender Conor Masterson has spoken of his shock that Jurgen Klopp will be leaving Liverpool, having played under the German in his younger years.

It has been just over a month since Jurgen Klopp stunned the football world by announcing that he would be leaving Liverpool and English football at the end of the Premier League season. 

As Liverpool celebrate winning a tenth Carabao Cup (League Cup in its various guises) and their second under the German, the realisation that his days are ending at Anfield is still hard to believe, especially for those who have experienced Klopp at first hand… one of whom is Gillingham’s Irish defender Conor Masterson. 

Masterson joined the Anfield Academy shortly after the German was first appointed in 2015 and was named on the first team bench for an FA Cup tie against Exeter City in 2016 before joining the under 23s for the 2017/2018 season.

Later that season, Masterson was an unused sub for both the Merseyside derby and the Champions League Quarter Final win over Manchester City. 

“I was shocked by the news when it first came out,” Masterson admitted recently to KSN.

“When I was there, he was the manager and gave me my chance around the first team with regards to training with them and on the bench for certain games.”

“I have a lot of respect for him, because being at a Club like Liverpool and being able to get a chance like he gave me was unbelievable!” 

“As you can see with some of the youngsters who are now playing in the first team squad and others who have come through the system.”

“I played in Trent’s (Trent Alexander-Arnold) youth team, I know how Liverpool works, so Klopp has been a main part of it in recent years to be honest.”

“Without him it does not really work because he is the one who has brought us all through at the time and I will always be grateful for the opportunity that he gave me.” 

“I had one really good chat with him whilst I was at the Club,” Masterson recalled.

“I had one seriously good chat with him, but I ended up getting injured afterwards and so it really did not help me!”

“But I had one really good chat with him and what I think about him is that he is a great man manager – he makes you feel ten foot tall and that you are the best player on the pitch.”

“You look at Liverpool now and they just look like they are on top of the world, all of them and just play with a smile on their faces, but with an intensity that no other team can match, and I think he is a main part of that!” 

“He allows his players to go out and express themselves – when I went to the Club I was nervous, but then when you get on the training pitch, and he’s encouraging you and stuff, your shackles are off and you just go out and express yourself and I think that’s another thing that he’s helped with the Academy.”   

“The young lads taking the field for them at the moment will be nervous, but they will know exactly what to do as they will have in their mind, but they will also know that “he” believes in me, so I can go and do this, which is an important part of any footballer.” 

“I have seen a few of his team-talks before games and you are ready to go to war for him when he’s finished, put it that way!”

“You get so fired up as it means a lot to him, so it means a lot to you, so yes… he is a very passionate person and as I love passion as well, he was very good for me!” 

“He’ll be a big loss to English football that’s for sure… big time!”