Jurgen Klopp has done all Liverpool expected of him says Ian Ayre

Jurgen Klopp with fans at John Lennon Airport ahead of Liverpools departure for Kiev. Picture: PA.

All eyes will be on Kiev tomorrow as the Reds attempt to chalk up their sixth European crown against a Real Madrid side looking to wrap up their third in a row.

While Zinedine Zidane’s men were always among the favourites for this year’s crown, Liverpool have come up on the outside thanks to the way Klopp has shaped his exciting, young team.

Few are prouder of the German’s work than the man who was pictured alongside him at his unveiling just over two-and-a-half years ago, leaving boyhood Reds fan Ayre delighted.

“Jurgen is a very unique and special individual,” said Ayre. “What became evident very quickly was how honest and without ego he was, and I think in this sport that’s quite unusual.

“He’s the sort of person who will defend his view but also listen to other people’s views. We had a fantastic relationship and nobody’s more satisfied or pleased both for him and the club with what they’ve achieved this season already, regardless of the outcome on  Saturday.

“I think he’s done everything that Liverpool and the owners expected of him. He continues to move the club forwards and genuinely I think if you speak to anybody who works with him, whether it is on the business side of Liverpool or the football side of Liverpool, everybody has huge admiration for him. And he’s a top, top coach to work with. Anybody would do well to find a coach as good as him with the skillset and the personality he has.”

Ayre played a key role in bringing Klopp to Anfield and secretly first met him in the United States – the place he will soon be calling home after this week being confirmed as CEO of Major League Soccer new boys Nashville.

“Often we would come under criticism for buying young players and not buying bigger name players all the time – but look at some of the players we took who weren’t the huge numbers that you now see,” Ayre said of his time at the club.

“Even taking [Philippe] Coutinho way back from Inter Milan. He wasn’t really getting a start in their team and that didn’t really make big waves at the time, but turned out to be great.

“Likewise we took a number of players like [Roberto] Firmino and Sadio Mane, and I think great testament to Jurgen that he has always been – and still is – a coach who wants to bring in good talent and make it great talent.”