Jurgen Klopp delivered the Liverpool title victory and always felt inevitable. Always.
Even before being introduced as Liverpool’s new coach, you had a good feeling about this.
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Klopp promised at his opening press conference on October 9, 2015 that he would win some trophies before the end of his initial four-year contract ending this summer.
I was at his press conference in Anfield and it was special. You had a feeling this was it. This was the moment that was the beginning of the end of Liverpool’s wait.
He has delivered the UEFA Champions League and now the Premier League, the holy grail, as Liverpool is England’s champion for the first time in over 30 years. This is the trophy that Liverpool fans wanted and have done it in style.
“When I left Dortmund, my last sentence was that what people think when you enter is not so important, what they think is more important than what you leave. Please give us time to work on it. If we want, this could be a really special day, “said Klopp in his presentation in 2015.” We could start in a very difficult league, but in a special way from Liverpool we can be successful. We can’t wait, I don’t mean that we can wait 20 years. If we sit here in four years, I think we win a title. I am pretty sure. If not next, maybe in Switzerland. “
It was a special day. They have won a title. It is not headed for Switzerland. She is a Liverpool legend for eternity.
Klopp and Liverpool have done this through hard work, smart recruiting, and getting the right people in the right jobs from top to bottom of the club.
Yes, they have had money to spend. Yes, they are one of the largest clubs in the world. Yes, they have a huge fan base.
But none of that guarantees success. Ask Man United.
Klopp was the difference. Hugs, punches and smiles galore, he has led this Liverpool revolution with supreme passion from the start. Talk to almost everyone as if you were chatting with them while having a pint in the pub. His laugh is touching. Drinking tea from a mug that has a design of him with a baseball cap is very fashionable. Listening carefully, speaking meaningfully, and explaining in detail would sum up any of my interactions with Klopp.
His enthusiasm for the game, and now his club, is contagious. Few people have that special aura that when they enter a room, everyone is instantly comfortable and amazed. Klopp has it.
We sat down with Jurgen Klopp in August, just before this season began. His hunger, passion, and detail are simply incredible.
This photo is from a chat we had that was not filmed. We just wanted to learn more.
Klopp speaks to you as if you were one of his colleagues in the pub. #LFC pic.twitter.com/wCWPj0fmxK
– Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) June 25, 2020
Klopp is a man of the people. He knows what it feels like to win, suffer and laugh because he’s been there. He said at his opening press conference that he should be nicknamed ‘The Normal One’ when asked about a nickname for himself compared to ‘The Special One’ Jose Mourinho.
In many ways, Klopp is normal. In many ways, he is not normal.
Along the way, things have not always gone well. From eighth place in their debut season to defeats in the Europa League, League Cup and UEFA Champions League finals, Liverpool have been piling up until now.
Those defeats have made this team what it is. The Champions League victory last season and the Premier League title victory this season is the culmination of Klopp never giving up, his recruiting staff are brave to bet on Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Andrew Robertson, and Owners give you 100 percent support.
His gegenpressing tactics have revolutionized the game in England. Arsenal and Chelsea are trying to replicate what they did in Liverpool, but how can you replicate Klopp? For starters, Liverpool were a great artist, they always scored goals but they always conceded.
Klopp has changed his tactics and are now more determined and more refined, but they are even more dangerous in attack as his insatiable style of play takes everyone out of the stadium from their seats.
The Kop is always loud and Anfield’s famous roar will always be there, but the Kop is louder and the roar is fiercer when Klopp is nearby.
He is a one in a million character. He is a man that people love and respect, whoever his club is. Even if you despised Liverpool before, you should smile when you see Klopp celebrating. A manager like Klopp is what this beautiful game is all about.
Sir Alex Ferguson knew this as soon as Klopp was hired by Liverpool. He knew what was coming. When the most successful manager in British history, and probably the best manager in game history, can see him, you know he’s there.
Klopp’s vision from the start was to win the Premier League and now he has.
Liverpool, thanks to its tactics, recruiting surrounding staff, its relationship with its players and everyone else at the club, are now poised to be a dynasty.
Whatever happens now, Klopp kept his promise and will always be a Liverpool hero.
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