[ad_1]
Liverpool legend Bruce Grobbelaar acknowledges that Jurgen Klopp is a reincarnation of the great Bill Shankly, only with a German accent.
Grobbelaar, a six-time title winner and the man whose penalty shootout saves brought the European Cup to Anfield in 1984, played with Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, Kenny Dalglish and Graeme Souness for 13 glorious years on Merseyside.
But Shankly’s influence was always bubbling under the surface. And Grobbelaar believes that the manager who turned Liverpool into a bastion of invincibility more than half a century ago now has a kindred spirit in the guise of Klopp.
Grobbelaar said: “Jurgen Klopp is not just a great coach. Understand the city of Liverpool and its people. And he knows what the club means to the fans and how much time and love they invest in his team.
(Image: LAURENCE GRIFFITHS / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
“On the touchline it doesn’t stop. You want to see it almost as much as you want to see the team. You may have an argument with the opposition coach or the referee, but it will always end with a handshake.
“And I can’t tell you how much it means to a player that the coach comes out onto the field at the final whistle to hug you. I’m not surprised that brick walls go through it. Jurgen is like a reincarnation of Shankly, only with a German accent. “
Since arriving at Anfield just over five years ago, Klopp has transformed the Reds into the series winners last seen when Grobbelaar was between the sticks.
He lifted the Champions League in 2019 and last season ended Liverpool’s 30-year wait for the title. Grobbelaar, 63, was a goalkeeper when the championship was last paraded in Merseyside 30 years ago.
Grobbelaar said: “Jurgen works very well with the owners. If you look at the backstory of the Fenway Sports Group in baseball, you see how they targeted certain positions when they took over the Boston Red Sox.
“They spent a lot when it came to building the backbone of the team: the catcher, the pitcher, the first baseman and the center fielders.
“And they have done exactly the same with Liverpool with the goalkeeper (Alisson Becker), the center midfielder (Virgil van Dijk), the central midfield (Fabinho) and the forwards (Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane).
“The rest of the team also have great quality, but that column holds it all together.
(Image: Liverpool Echo)
“Klopp has spent money bringing in players that he knew would become some of the best in the world. But the club has made a lot of money back selling players. Now we also have some great youngsters who have been able to lead the team through an injury crisis. “
Grobbelaar added: “The old saying that goes back to when I was at the club was ‘we will never win the league without a Scouser and a Scotsman.’ Jurgen has that with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson.
“Klopp understands what Liverpool stands for. Before the pandemic hit, he would go to town for a pint and a smoke with the fans who love him. He has that quality that all the great Liverpool coaches had in the sense that he is a man of the people.
“We all remember the famous photo of Shankly walking in front of the Kop.
“I was at the game when Jurgen came onto the field to celebrate with the fans for the first time. It was pure Shanks. “
Will Liverpool win the Premier League again? Give your opinion in the comments below.
Subscribe to the Mirror Football newsletter here
[ad_2]
