Jurgen Klopp has responded to a 10-year old Manchester United mad Donegal native who begged Liverpool to start losing matches.
Daragh Curley, a pupil of Glenswilly National School, wrote a letter to the Liverpool boss, pleading with him to ensure Liverpool do not break the record for the longest unbeaten streak in English football:
Liverpool are winning too many games. If you win nine more games then you have the best unbeaten run in English football. Being a United fan that is very sad.
So the next time Liverpool play, please make them lose. You should just let the other team score. I hope I have convinced you to not win the league or any other match ever again.
Liverpool are closing in on Arsenal's record of 49 Premier League matches unbeaten, a tally they could match in the game against Manchester City on April 4th.
The youngster was shocked to receive a replay from the German. He responded saying that while he could not grant Daragh's request, he admired his passion for his club.
Image credit: Gordon Curley
Unfortunately, on this occasion, I cannot grant your request, not through choice anyway.
As much as you want Liverpool to lose it is my job to do everything that I can to help Liverpool to win as there are millions of people around the world who want that to happen so I really do not want to let them down.
Luckily for you, we have lost games in the past and we will lose games in the future because that is football.
The problem is when you are 10-years-old you think that things will always be as they are now but if there is one thing I can tell you as 52 years old it is that this most definitely isn't the case."
Having read your letter, though, I think I can safely say that one thing that will not change is your passion for football and for your club. Manchester United are lucky to have you.
I hope that if we are lucky enough to win more games and maybe even lift some more trophies you will not be too disappointed because although our clubs are great rivals we also share a great respect for one another.
This, to me, is what football is all about. Take care and good luck, Jurgen.
Speaking to the BBC yesterday, Daragh revealed why he took the step of writing the letter in the first place.
Because my teacher said 'you never get if you never ask', so I just asked. Unfortunately he couldn't grant my request.
Klopp was also asked about the letter during his press conference this afternoon, with the Irish Independent posting his response.
Image credit: Gordon Curley
