Jurgen Klopp was unveiled to the world by Liverpool FC as their new manager on Thursday evening. The German had his first press conference as the Reds’ manager yesterday. Here are the three things we observed from his first public address as the boss of the Anfield outfit.
Jurgen Klopp is the new Liverpool FC manager, having signed a three year deal at Anfield. The German’s appointment comes after Northern Irishman Brendan Rodgers had been sacked by the club following a dismal start to the new season that had seen the Reds win only three of their eleven games so far in all competitions.
Klopp will be joined at Anfield by his team that includes Zeljko Buvac and Peter Krawietz, his assistant and analyst respectively at Borussia Dortmund.
We look at three things we learned from the Germans’ first few days as the new Liverpool FC boss:
1 – Klopp can charm anyone
Right from the moment he took to the mic, you knew that this is a man in complete control of the press room. This ability to charm the press was last seen in a certain Portuguese who called himself the ‘Special One’. Klopp preferes to call himself the ‘Normal One’, but there was nothing normal in that room at that moment. His infection charm and his sense of humour had the room in splits at times, and the Liverpool FC fans’ and former players’ reaction on Twitter said it all.
He enjoyed a great bond with the players and supporters at Borussia Dortmund and if the initial reaction to his press conference is anything to go by, he is all set to replicate the same at Anfield.
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His promise of harnessing the energy at Anfield and transferring it on to the players, and calling Liverpool a ‘special club’ in a manner that highlights the passion he has, means the fans are already drooling over him.
2 – Klopp realizes the power of emotions at Anfield and Liverpool FC
Klopp remarked that Liverpool FC are a special club because of the way the fans live football in the city and at Anfield. The German promised a full throttlea football to the limit in every single game at Anfield, terming it as “emotional football”.
He urged the fans to turn from doubters to believers, highlighting the fact that instilling belief back amongst the Reds faithful will go a long way in delivering the positive atmosphere that will spur the players on, making them play beyond their capacity.
The German’s unique brand of football thrives on stifling the opponents with relentless pressing, and he realizes that his players will need to give a 100% every single time. As such, his efforts to increase the positive energy levels at Anfield will go a long way in getting the best out of each player.
3 – Klopp is ambitious
The Liverpool FC owners remarked that ambition was at the heart of their decision to sack Rodgers. Signing Klopp was the best way they could show it if the words of the German are anything to go by.
Klopp turned a mid-table side in Germany into one of the most feared teams across Europe, winning two Bundesliga titles and reaching the Champions League final with Dortmund.
On taking the Anfield hot-seat, he declared that he will be winning a title within four years at Liverpool FC while asking the fans to be patient at the same time. Liverpool FC have not won the league in the last 25 years and the bold statement by Klopp indicates that he is not afraid to take the difficult task at hand head on.