Jurgen Klopp believes he has won over those who doubted his managerial qualities over the course of his first year at Liverpool.
The former Borussia Dortmund boss will reach his one-year anniversary at Anfield on Saturday, during the international break.
Klopp does not want to celebrate the occasion and urged Liverpool staff members not to buy him a cake, but feels he has made significant strides in his first 12 months at the club.
He told the Liverpool Echo: "It's a year, I'm a year older and all this s***, but everything else is good. Not perfect, but in a good way. That's what we hoped, that's what we said. After one year standing here, we can talk like this. There was doubt, there was a lot of rumor around me.
"People said, 'Obviously he was a good coach at Dortmund but a German managing here doesn't work' — things like this. That's better now. The thing is, I'm not here for a year, I'm here hopefully for the long term, and it means that we have to use all the information we have until now and learn from it. That’s how life works, collecting experience, learning from it and being ready for the next challenge.
"My year is what, the 8th of October, yes? We will not celebrate, I can tell you that. Hopefully nobody brings me a cake! I have no time and I am not in the mood for reflection."
Liverpool has won five straight matches in all competitions after coming from behind to beat Swansea City 2-1 in the Premier League on Saturday, leaving the club just two points behind first-place Manchester City.
But it is off the pitch that Klopp says the experience of being part of the club has exceeded his expectations.
He continued: "I liked the club before I was here but, when you are in it, it is so different. This club has a lot of work to do, it's not about enjoying the history, it's about being part of it. And being a part of it is nice."