JURGEN KLOPP has taken time away from his job as Liverpool boss to send a letter to an 11-year-old fan about dealing with anxiety.
Young Reds supporter Lewis Balfe, from Maidenhead in Berkshire, wrote to Klopp over the summer explaining he was worried about starting secondary school.
Jurgen Klopp delighted a young Liverpool fan by responding to his letter about anxietyCredit: PA:Press Association
And he was delighted to get a response from the Premier League and Champions League winner, who revealed he also ‘gets nervous’.
Klopp added to ‘not worry about bad things’ and thanked Lewis for his devotion to Liverpool.
Klopp told Lewis: “Can I tell you a secret? I get nervous.
“To be totally honest, I would be worried if I did not get nervous because when it happens it gives me the chance to turn that energy into something positive.
“I know it might be strange for a boy of your age to think that the Liverpool manager can feel the way you do but I do.
“From your letter it is clear that you are a very thoughtful and also very caring and when you have these qualities it is very hard to avoid getting nervous.
“You asked me what I do when my players feel this way and the answer is simply – I remind them of how important they are to me and how much I believe in them and I have no doubt that it will be exactly the same for your family and you.
“You do not need to worry about bad things happening.
Klopp’s letter to Lewis
HELLO Lewis
Can I tell you a secret? I get nervous.
To be totally honest, I would be worried if I did not get nervous because when it happens it gives me the chance to turn that energy into something positive.
I know it might be strange for a boy of your age to think that the Liverpool manager can feel the way you do but I do.
From your letter it is clear that you are a very thoughtful and also very caring and when you have these qualities it is very hard to avoid getting nervous.
You asked me what I do when my players feel this way and the answer is simply – I remind them of how important they are to me and how much I believe in them and I have no doubt that it will be exactly the same for your family and you.
You do not need to worry about bad things happening.
As you know, I lost more than a few finals and this isn’t a good feeling but with the help of my family and friends I kept going and in the end we were able to enjoy some really good times,’ the letter continued.
If I had dwelled on the bad moments I know that this would not have been possible so please be positive about yourself and look forward to the brilliant time that I know you will have growing up.
And don’t forget that you are part of the Liverpool family and this means that you have millions and millions of people just like you who want you to be as happy as you can be.
Your support means a lot to me and everyone at LFC so I hope that this letter shows that we support you too.
You’ll Never Walk Alone.
Jurgen Klopp
“As you know, I lost more than a few finals and this isn’t a good feeling but with the help of my family and friends I kept going and in the end we were able to enjoy some really good times.
“If I had dwelled on the bad moments I know that this would not have been possible so please be positive about yourself and look forward to the brilliant time that I know you will have growing up.
“And don’t forget that you are part of the Liverpool family and this means that you have millions and millions of people just like you who want you to be as happy as you can be.
“Your support means a lot to me and everyone at LFC so I hope that this letter shows that we support you too. You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
Lewis’ mum Milena revealed he was thrilled with Klopp’s response – and has now got the letter framed.
She told The Maidenhead Advertiser: “He was over the moon.
“He had been asking after the reply for a long time and I was trying not to get his hopes up too much because on the website it says the players and manager can’t reply to every letter.
“I thought they might have sent something over that was just signed, but it was actually quite a thoughtful letter.
“He’s got a sense of pride that he’s received it. I hope that he’ll reflect on it and read it at those (nervous) moments, that he’ll call back on it.”
It’s not the first time the German has responded to a youngster’s message, with Irish Manchester United fan Daragh Curley receiving a reply to his hilarious plea for Liverpool to stop winning games in February.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
