- Title: Klopp invites Akinfenwa to Liverpool title parade after pair swap messages
- Date: 15th July 2020
- Summary: LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UK (JULY 14, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIVERPOOL MANAGER, JUERGEN KLOPP, SAYING: "I just enjoy these kind of stories of course I like it. As a player I was in similar situations that is how it is. Football meant everything to me before somebody thought 'it's worth giving him some money for it', and that has never changed. That is why I always will love this game because you can fulfill your own dreams, it just depends on the dreams."
- Embargoed: 29th July 2020 11:43
- Keywords: Dele Akinfenwa Juergen Klopp Liverpool Wycome Wanderers
- Location: VARIOUS
- City: VARIOUS
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA005CMX885B
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said he has invited Wycombe Wanderers' Adebayo Akinfenwa to their Premier League title parade shortly after sending the forward a congratulatory message for sealing promotion to the Championship.
After Wanderers beat Oxford United in the League One playoff final at Wembley on Monday (July 13) to secure their place in the English second-tier for the first time, Akinfenwa had joked in his post-match interview that Klopp could "hit me up on WhatsApp".
The German manager had responded with a video message and said during a news conference on Tuesday (July 14)that Akinfenwa would also be part of their title celebration when it happens.
"When it's possible, in the future ... he is invited for the parade, 100% ... I saw he was sitting in the team meeting in a Liverpool kit, which I thought was really funny," Klopp said.
"I watched the game ... yes he responded, he sent a video back," Klopp added, without giving details. "At least a few things in life should stay private. It was nice, he was obviously really happy."
Following Monday's game, Akinfenwa had reflected about his journey from being "technically unemployed" after helping AFC Wimbledon reach English soccer's third tier in 2016 to being promoted to the Championship with Wanderers four years later.
"I just enjoy these kind of stories ... as a player I was in similar situations," Klopp said. "Football meant everything to me before somebody thought 'it's worth giving him some money for it', and that has never changed."
"I always will love this game because you can fulfil your own dreams, it just depends on the dreams."
(Production: Iain Axon and George Sargent) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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