British journalist Ben Bloom, working for The Telegraph, was all set to bring the big news to the English paper’s online readers.
It was only after the first words left the mouth of Dortmund chairman Hans Joachim Watzke that Bloom’s heart sank, and sank hard.
After an excited series of build-up posts, Bloom reports: "Right we have a slight issue... they are speaking in German and my GCSE in the subject isn't much help.”
He followed up a few minutes later.
"What I can deduce is that the bloke currently speaking (I'm assuming he's the Dortmund chief exec or something) genuinely sounds like someone has died. He's properly choked. Oh he just said "fantastisch". I'm guessing he wasn't describing Klopp's decision to leave the club."
Soon, it all became too much and Bloom’s frustrations got the better of him.
"Why can't I speak German???????" he hammered into his keyboard.
In an attempt to provide his readers with something, anything, Bloom took a different tack.
"I'd love to tell you what Klopp is saying. He is saying a lot. But I can understand precisely none of it. So here's a photo of him pouring some water instead:"
By that point, the Twittersphere had caught on, and seemed to be thoroughly enjoying Bloom’s efforts.
Bloom was even given an offer of German courses from the nation’s embassy in London.
He wrapped up his shift on Struggle Street with some sage advice.
Whether Bloom is sent to another presser overseas is probably now in doubt. His masters posted the last entry on the live blog, which read: “Sadly, Ben Bloom has now gone home to start his German lessons. But he appears to have become something of a web sensation in the meantime … (PS. We haven't fired him. Yet.)
For the record, we hope he’s sent to every press conference from now until forever, as the entertainment provided was magnificent.
