Jurgen Klopp has said he might be 70 years old before he curbs his touchline enthusiasm and envies managers who can sit through games on the bench.
Klopp's demonstrative performances have naturally followed him from Borussia Dortmund to Liverpool and he apologised to Bournemouth's Eddie Howe after entering his technical area to castigate Divock Origi during Wednesday's Capital One Cup tie. The new Liverpool manager's demeanour is part of his appeal and also, he believes, the best way of instructing players from the sideline. Potential exists for a collision or two with José Mourinho when he shares the confined area of Stamford Bridge with the effusive Chelsea manager today but Klopp admits he finds it impossible to keep his emotions in check.
Cool down
“It’s a natural thing,” said the 48-year-old. “I try to get better at everything I do but it’s not easy to cool down during a game. If I’m doing this job when I’m 70, I hope I will be calmer. Many of the biggest coaches in the world spend all 90 minutes sat on the bench watching a game. I would like to do that but it’s not possible for me. I only do this because I want to help.”
Klopp recorded his first victory as Liverpool manager on Wednesday and is seeking a third win in five meetings with Mourinho, having won two, drawn one and lost one of four encounters with the then Real Madrid coach at Dortmund.
Christian Benteke is available to start his first Premier League game under the new manager, having missed the cup tie against Bournemouth with a knee ligament problem, although Daniel Sturridge remains unavailable with his knee injury.
Klopp has warned his players to beware Chelsea’s reaction to an alarming sequence of one win in seven matches.
"Do the Chelsea players not know any more how to play football? No, of course not," he said. "They did well in the last game [the Capital One Cup shootout defeat at Stoke City]. Last year you know how Chelsea play – very good defence, very good structure and with the quality to finish the situation up front. It was not only Hazard but Costa, Oscar and Ramires, all great football players. Set-pieces, too, are dangerous with John Terry and Cahill.
“I’m not sure it is easy to play against Chelsea. They were full of confidence last year, so maybe that makes a difference now, but to be wounded, sometimes that makes you stronger, too.”
The former Dortmund coach says Liverpool’s players have responded better than he anticipated to a change of style inside three weeks. He is also adamant the squad can sustain an intensive approach, despite the absence of a winter break in the Premier League.
Counterpressing
“Having no break here isn’t a problem,” said Klopp. “It’s about timing in the games. We don’t want to be chasing the ball around for 90 minutes because we want to have the ball more often. If we lose the ball and if we decide to go quicker for counterpressing, then it’s a short wait, not a long wait. It’s a fast way to get the ball back, it’s not high intensity.
“You all speak about the intensity of English football but here you have no winter break. What happens at Christmas here is that usually we play this day and then again and again. There is no power, no aggression because of all these games but the players here are fit enough to play this way.
“Of course, we need the whole squad and we need some luck with keeping players healthy. If not, you have to try to find other solutions. I’d prefer that we run 116km, rather than 121km. The right way is what we’re learning at this moment. We just need to do more work with the players; no problem.” Guardian Service
