The beginning of Liverpool’s new era began on Friday morning with Jurgen Klopp’s first news conference. Accompanied by chief executive officer Ian Ayre, the German addressed the media after signing a three-year contract on Thursday.
Far and away the supporters’ favourite to take over at Anfield, Klopp should deliver the kind of football that delighted the Premier League in 2013-14. He is a definitively upgraded version of a football philosophy that includes the classic Boot Room pass-and-move foundation with the high-intensity pressing showcased by Borussia Dortmund.
“We will try to play very emotional football,” Klopp said, later adding, “full-throttle football.”
Undoubtedly, Klopp is the right choice at this moment and he knows this too, as he said: “This is a great club with great potential. We have strong, fast players with flair. Let’s start a new way.”
Even better, the magnitude of joining the Reds was not lost on him: “It’s surreal. I woke up this morning and I was manager of Liverpool FC.”
He addressed both the great echoes of the past and the recent drought of titles in one swoop when explaining, “History is only the base for us. You can’t carry it in your backpack every day.”
Still, this was a day for the charm offensive and Klopp’s wide smile and charisma was at full wattage. Like his predecessor, he said many of the right things, but was more circumspect in his delivery. He possessed the confidence of the dismissed Brendan Rodgers, but also more humility.
A major difference this time around is that Klopp has a proven, winning CV. Not only has he guided a team to promotion, like his predecessor, he has one two league championships, outwitting a rich, mega club rival in the process, even taking a team to the brink of the European Cup. So there is considerably more gravitas when he said, “I am prepared for this because of my experiences.”
Klopp also recognised the nature of situation where both he and the club find themselves, which is delicate but not completely broken. Getting a late start to a season already in progress presents its own set of challenges.
On his own arrival, “It’s a good moment now. Not all the players are there, and then we will start,” Klopp said.
“The most important for the development is the start. This is a good moment to restart. It’s not important now who is the winners of the Premier League. We play our own game and it’s important the players feel the confidence and trust of the people,” explained the German.
On the current status of the club, “The Premier League is one of the most difficult in the world. There’s five, six or seven clubs that can be the champions. Only one can win and all the others are disappointed and live in the middle of disaster.”
There is something authentic about Klopp’s public persona. He clearly possesses great self-belief, something he will need to transfer to the players in his charge, who have faltered in that regard of late.
He seems to possess the assuredness required when he said, “The players have to feel they can reach the expectations of all the press and fans. If somebody wants to help LFC, they need to change from doubter to believer.”
These are words to the weary Liverpool faithful, who already have embraced the new man with unanimous enthusiasm. Klopp projects a passion and enthusiasm that is catching.
“Everyone knows me. It’s emotion, speed. It’s a transition game, so you will see this. All the things that make football interesting I want to see,” Klopp said.
Careful not to be too bold on day one, he declared, “When we’re sitting here in four years I’m pretty sure we will have won one title in that time,” a far cry from the overt managing of expectations that were becoming increasingly more common around Liverpool.
Even more positive was his assessment of the current squad. “I believe in the potential of this team. There are four or five strikers I can work with, experienced defenders, the goalkeeper is really good,” Klopp explained. As of yet, there is no reason to doubt his sincerity.
Jurgen Klopp clearly gets it and he is a winner. “I’m not a dreamer but I’m a romantic. I love the stories and Anfield is one of the best places in the football world. Now I’m here. I’m a lucky guy.”
Liverpool fans also have to be counting themselves lucky. Landing a manager of such quality and seems to be an ideal fit for the club will prove lucky indeed, if he can achieve the heights he already has while a Red. While time will tell, he may turn out to be the best move Fenway Sports Group has made yet.
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