Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp makes 11-year-old fan's day by sending him heartfelt letter

Jurgen Klopp has made a young Liverpool fan’s day by responding to the supporter’s letter with a heartfelt message. 

Lewis Balfe, 11, from Maidenhead, Berkshire, sent his idol a letter over the summer holidays expressing his concerns over starting secondary school and Klopp replied over the weekend. 

The German sent the youngster a sincere response, admitting that he too ‘gets nervous’ as he opened up on handling anxiety.

The touching letter begins: ‘Hello Lewis, ‘Can I start by telling you a secret? I get nervous. 

‘To be totally honest, I would be worried if I did not get nervous because when it happens it gives me the chance to turn that energy into something positive. 

‘I know it might be strange for a boy of your age to think that the Liverpool manager can feel the way you do but I do. 

‘From your letter it is clear that you are a very thoughtful and also very caring and when you have these qualities it is very hard to avoid getting nervous.

‘You asked me what I do when my players feel this way and the answer is simply – I remind them of how important they are to me and how much I believe in them and I have no doubt that it will be exactly the same for your family and you.

‘You do not need to worry about bad things happening.’

The Liverpool boss also pointed out the importance of friends and family and expressed gratitude for Lewis’s support.

‘As you know, I lost more than a few finals and this isn’t a good feeling but with the help of my family and friends I kept going and in the end we were able to enjoy some really good times,’ the letter continued.

‘If I had dwelled on the bad moments I know that this would not have been possible so please be positive about yourself and look forward to the brilliant time that I know you will have growing up.

‘And don’t forget that you are part of the Liverpool family and this means that you have millions and millions of people just like you who want you to be as happy as you can be.

‘Your support means a lot to me and everyone at LFC so I hope that this letter shows that we support you too. You’ll Never Walk Alone.’ 

Lewis has now got the letter framed and his mum Milena thanked Klopp for his reply on Twitter. 

‘He was over the moon,’ she told The Maidenhead Advertiser. ‘He had been asking after the reply for a long time, and I was trying not to get his hopes up too much because on the website it says the players and manager can’t reply to every letter. 

‘I thought they might have sent something over that was just signed, but it was actually quite a thoughtful letter.

‘He’s got a sense of pride that he’s received it. I hope that he’ll reflect on it and read it at those (nervous) moments, that he’ll call back on it.’

It is not the first time Klopp has written to a young football fan. Ten-year-old Manchester United supporter Daragh Curley sent a letter to the Liverpool manager asking them to never win again last season.

Klopp, whose side ran away with the Premier League title last campaign, politely turned down his request but also offered words of wisdom to give the young United fan hope for the future.