The 10-year-old Manchester United fan who received a reply from Jurgen Klopp after asking him to lose said he thought somebody was playing a trick on him.
Daragh Curley, from County Donegal in Ireland, wrote a letter to the Liverpool manager after taking issue with the league leaders crushing unbeaten run.
He asked Klopp if he could make Liverpool lose and ideally never win again.
Manchester United fan Daragh Curley wrote a letter to Jurgen Klopp asking them to lose
The Liverpool managed praised the ‘cheeky’ lad in his press conferenec on Friday
To Daragh’s surprise, the Champions League-winning boss replied, saying he was unable to fulfill his request.
Speaking to Adrian Chiles on BBC Radio 5 Live on Friday, Daragh explained his first thoughts were upon opening the letter: ‘Is someone trying to play a trick on me?
‘Then I saw the official paper and then I realised it was not a trick it was actually Jurgen Klopp.’
When asked if the heartfelt message from the Liverpool manager changed his thoughts about the club, Daragh replied: ‘If they lose 5-0 I’ll be a bit sad but if they lose 4-0 I’ll be alright.’
The 10-year-old explained how Liverpool’s success during this season was making him sad
Klopp also responded to the letter in his press conference today, praising the young fan as ‘cheeky’.
He said: ‘I can’t answer all letters I get every day. It was nice, it was cheeky. We had time, I read the letter and replied, next day it was in the newspapers.
‘I don’t like that too much, but all fine, all fine. I like working for Liverpool and I like the rivalry, but I love even more if we can keep that on the pitch.’
The Reds boss had praised Daragh’s passion in the letter and how he was a credit to Manchester United as a supporter.
He said in his press conference: ’10 years old, cheeky, a nice age, when you should start being cheeky, and it was smart as well. A good idea, try it, why not.
But the 10-year-old was left stunned when the Liverpool boss replied with a 262-word letter
‘We try to respond to as many as possible, but it’s not just possible. The letters are pretty much all friendly, but I cannot reply to all of them.’
When Daragh was asked if he had anyone else in his targets, the young lad said he would write to England rugby manager Eddie Jones asking if he could lose to Ireland in the Six Nations.
His letter to Klopp read: ‘Dear Jurgen Klopp, My name is Daragh. I am 10 years old. I go to Glenswilly N.S in Donegal. I support Man United and the reason I am writing is to complain.
‘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 tam score. I hope I have convinced you to not win the league or win another match ever again. Yours sincerely, Daragh.’
Liverpool are currently unbeaten in the Premier League and are on course for the title
Daragh was left stunned though when he received an official reply from Klopp, who although politely turned down his request, also offered words of wisdom to give the young United fan hope for the future.
Klopp’s reply came explaining that while he cannot make Liverpool lose by choice, he also had a duty to make Reds fans around the world happy, saying: 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.’
Klopp also explained to the 10-year-old how dominance was not permanent and the cycle of football will lead to eventual change.
He then said: ‘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.
‘Although our clubs are great rivals we also share a great respect for one another. This, to me, is what football is all about.’