Jurgen Klopp has revealed to Gabriele Marcotti of ESPN that his first act as Liverpool manager was to watch a documentary on the Hillsborough tragedy.
Klopp knew of the tragedy but told ESPN that he felt he needed to understand more, and told Marcotti of the esteem he holds those who fought the exhaustive 27-year battle for truth and justice:
I love this city for what they did in the 27 years after Hillsborough.
The nonstop fight for justice, the way they all stuck together. At the memorial, I heard Evertonians talking about it and how they were affected and the respect that exists.
You know, it's easy to say it's only football, but here there is so much more behind it.
In such an awful tragedy, we saw so much unity in a city like Liverpool. I don't think that's something to take for granted. There are many other places where it would not happen. That's one of the things that makes this city special.
The inquests decreeing the 96 fans were unlawfully killed were announced on April 26 this year. Klopp paid tribute to the families at the time, in the aftermath of the Europa League semi-final victory against Villareal.
Elsewhere, Klopp said he was looking forward to the season ahead, as the signings of Sadio Mane, Ragnar Klavan, Loris Karius, Joel Matip and Gino Winjnaldum along with the departures of Martin Skrtel, Jordon Ibe, Kolo Toure and Joe Allen have allowed him put his own stamp on the side he inherited from Brendan Rodgers.
We tried our best last year and I'd say it was OK. But now it's different. It will be more 'our' team and hopefully everyone can see the improvement.
Klopp's summer business mean that all of the signings Brendan Rodgers made in his first season at Liverpool - those arrivals which were seemingly so important in laying down Rodgers' philosophy - have now departed.
[ESPN]
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