It wasn't quite like a proud yet weepy parent waving off their child on the first day of school.
But the message sent by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp to his departing Africa Cup of Nations contingent seemed sincere enough.
“Hand on heart I would love one of them to go all the way and become champions," said the Reds boss. "I know what it means to them. I hope they enjoy every second of their time competing."
This upbeat sentiment appeared somewhat at odds with the emotions of many Reds supporters, who had been dreading Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita departing for Cameroon for much of January.
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Liverpool's impressive results in the trio's absence - closing the gap on Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, reaching the Carabao Cup final and progressing in the FA Cup - underlines they were able to cope.
And could events at AFCON ultimately prove of benefit to Klopp?
Much will depend on what happens during the closing week of the competition, with Salah and Mane remaining on collision course to meet in the final in Cameroon on Sunday week.
Indeed, with Liverpool not next in action until the same day - and, in any case, there would be every chance neither Salah nor Mane would play a prominent part in the FA Cup fourth round tie at home to Championship side Cardiff City - Reds fans are now actively hoping the duo go all the way.
Salah's Egypt must overcome Morocco on Sunday before a potential semi-final against either Gambia or hosts Cameroon, while on the same day Mane's Senegal take on Equatorial Guinea with a last-four tie against either Burkina Faso or Tunisia at stake.
Salah spoke this week about the importance of winning the AFCON having fallen short twice in the past, while Mane was a runner-up in 2019 and missed the penalty that knocked Senegal out during a shoot-out against Cameroon two years earlier.
Claiming a winners' medal, or at the very least making the final, could provide either player with a major boost going into the final third of the season with Liverpool, even if celebrations could threaten their involvement in the next Premier League game at home to Leicester City on February 10.
Of course, there will be ongoing concerns at potential injury, Mane having reportedly avoided any serious harm after his controversial likely concussion against Cape Verde on Tuesday that resulted in his hospitalisation.
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And there is the possibility of burnout having taken part in such a psychologically-demanding international tournament, although physically there would have been little difference than being at Liverpool and ploughing through a hectic January schedule.
The Reds' third AFCON representative, Naby Keita, has already seen his tournament ended after Guinea were eliminated in the round of 16, a game for which the midfielder was suspended.
But that Keita had been handed the man-of-the-match award in his country's first two group games and scored a screamer in their third suggests he should be brimming with self-belief on his return.
Klopp, meanwhile, will hope for the same for Salah and Mane. There remains every chance Liverpool will be welcoming back a new champion in a few weeks.
