News'Given me a lot of belief' - Caoimhin Kelleher explains Jürgen Klopp gratitude
Caoimhin Kelleher would love to repay the faith he has received from Jürgen Klopp by securing more silverware before the manager leaves Liverpool.
Having joined the club in the summer of 2015, Kelleher’s Reds spell has aligned almost precisely with that of Klopp, who arrived in October of the same year.
During that time, Kelleher has advanced through the Academy ranks to make 43 senior appearances – 22 of which have come this season.
The Republic of Ireland international is currently deputising for the injured Alisson Becker, and has spoken of his desire to play a part in Klopp departing Anfield on a high.
On the added incentive the players feel in light of the boss’ decision, Kelleher was quoted in a recent matchday programme: “I think maybe a little bit.
“There is that extra one per cent that we want to go on and give him a send-off he deserves, but I think from the start of the season we’ve had the objective to try to win trophies this year.
“We know how good we are as a squad, so I think that’s remained the same really. We just want to keep doing well, take it game by game and hopefully those trophies will come.”
Asked for the biggest lessons he has learned across almost nine years working with Klopp, he continued: “I think he’s always been one just to tell you to always keep your confidence and things like that.
“I think whatever happens, sometimes you might not have a good game or you might not be feeling the best about your game, but he’s always been a positive figure for me and always instils such confidence in me that I’ve always kept that belief in myself.
“He’s really given me a lot of belief just to keep my confidence all the time and believe in how good of a player I am.
“Obviously he’ll be a massive, massive miss. He’s the only manager I’ve had here, so it will be a bit strange but the memories will be really good to look back on.
“He’s given me my chance here and I’ve won trophies in 2022 and this year with him and hopefully maybe a few more before this season is out as well, so it’s been really good and obviously he will be a miss.”
Kelleher is currently enjoying his most prolonged run in the Liverpool team, with Alisson sidelined since early February due to an injury.
The No.62 explained how the group of goalkeepers at the club work together to ensure whoever is between the posts can reach their highest performance level.
He said of the collective: “It’s really good, I think we have a strong goalkeeper unit at the club.
“It’s always been really good with Ali. We’ve been together a few years now so we know each other quite well. He’s always there to support me and I think the view of the whole goalkeeping unit is that they are always there to support the person who is playing.
“Ali’s one of the best in the world in my opinion, one of the best ever. As I say, I’ve trained with him for a good number of years and just being able to watch him and what he does in the games and how he handles situations is probably the best thing for me.
“Being able to watch him so closely and then trying to emulate him and try to do what he’s really good at is great for me. I try to practise those things hard and make sure I’m in good shape.”