ANYTHING BUT NORMAL: KLOPP
MAKES SPECIAL FIRST IMPRESSION AT
LIVERPOOL
WATCH NOW
The former Borussia Dortmund coach gave a
captivating performance at his unveiling and if
the early indications are anything to go by, he
will be a huge hit at Anfield
COMMENT By Melissa Reddy
At 8.30am, the Reds Lounge in Anfield’s
Centenary Stand was already swarming. Every
section packed, every plug point taken, every
attendee eager to assess whether the
perception and reality aligned. Jurgen Klopp
insisted he was The Normal One at his first
press conference as Liverpool manager, but the
evidence suggested otherwise.
He had the media pack completely affixed to
his every answer. Energetic and unscripted, he
approached each question with ease and
intelligence in equal measure. Even the
supposedly ‘tough’ ones couldn’t stand up to
him.
Klopp laughed at the “really crazy discussion”
around the transfer committee and wouldn’t
succumb to the weight of expectation. Money?
Four clubs with better resources? He’s not
worried about that, he’s worried about the
football.
KLOPP SPEAKS | The Liverpool boss's first
press conference in full
Tied down by the glorious history? Klopp’s not
going to carry that around like a heavy
backpack. It's about the present. Concerned
about the quality of the team? Not a chance. He
thinks it’s got everything needed to work well.
A quarter of a century without the title? He
reckons he’ll deliver at least one within four
years.
The last time Anfield had an audience, boos
filled the stadium as Liverpool failed to beat
Sion in the Europa League. On Friday, it was
the German’s guffaw that trumpeted around the
ground. Klopp was correct in his assertion that
doubt and pessimism has plagued the club’s
fanbase. But that was before it became obvious
he’d be the new man in the dugout.
On Thursday, his movements from outside his
house to Mainz to the inside of his hotel on
Hope Street were frantically followed. Even
Klopp’s flight on a private plane from
Dortmund to John Lennon Airport was tracked,
with updates regularly posted on Twitter. The
euphoria has been building to a crescendo.
Supporters see the reconstruction of the Main
Stand and they now envisage a restoration of
Liverpool’s fortunes too. The first step to
winning is having an unswerving belief that you
can, and Klopp has that packed into every inch
of his six foot four frame.
The 48-year-old is exactly what Liverpool need
right now - a hypnotic leader who is all about
the football. All about emotional football. All
about entertaining football. All about getting
the best out of footballers.
No politics. No pretence. No punches. The fight
will be saved for the pitch.
He knows his real work hasn’t started yet. But
that’s all he craves - the training sessions, the
matches, the atmosphere. The shame is that
there is still a wait of over a week to endure
before Anfield can truly welcome its new
manager.
October 17 and the visit of Tottenham cannot
come soon enough.
Klopp insisted "it’s not important what people
think when you come in, but what they think
when you leave."
If he’s started as he means to go on, The
Normal One will long be loved in these parts.
http://m.goal.com/s/en-ng/news/4071/premier-league/2015/10/09/16166402/anything-but-normal-klopp-makes-special-first-impression-at
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