How Klopp’s influence helped Slot to title success

The football world was shocked when Jurgen Klopp announced that he would leave Liverpool in January 2024.

After his final game in charge at Anfield in May, there were high emotions, and Reds fans were concerned and unsure about what the following season would hold under new manager Arne Slot.

They don’t need to be concerned. Liverpool has won their 20th league title under Slot.

However, the Dutchman is credited with creating the squad and culture that Klopp created, as he highlighted following his team’s confirmation as champions on Sunday, with the mastermind behind Liverpool’s campaign this season.

Federico Chiesa, who only played a part in a limited number of games for the Reds this campaign, equals the title tally of Manchester United’s archrivals.

The “two main candidates” for Liverpool’s replacement manager were Carlo Ancelotti and Klopp, who both had been working at the time, according to former Reds director of research Ian Graham.

Ancelotti was a “great coach,” but Liverpool didn’t have the “sort of squad” with “proven superstars” he was used to managing.

Klopp, on the other hand, was perceived as a better candidate after winning the Bundesliga with a young Borussia Dortmund side in 2011 and 2012.

“Our goal was to recruit young players and have them reach their peak age together,” Graham said.

In October 2015, Klopp took over as Reds manager with the club finishing 10th in the Premier League, and he began the process of instilling principles and a philosophy at Anfield, which Slot has benefited from.

Peter Krawietz, who had worked with Klopp at Mainz and Dortmund before moving to Liverpool and working as his assistant, said, “We always wanted to create stories that we can tell our grandchildren.”

There is only one option, they say. Work together to accomplish it. Together, of course.

Use that to ensure that our emotions are tempered like brothers and families. Know how much assistance you require from all involved teams, including the analysts, the doctors, the physiotherapists, and the nutritionists.

“We can only work together,” he said. You have no chance if you are alone or leave someone else alone.

Silverware had proved to be elusive in the pursuit of success.

Even though that would have won them the league title in most other years, Liverpool were pipped to the top-flight spot by Manchester City, who had scored a respectable 97 points between 2018 and 2019.

In addition to the 2018 Champions League final, the Reds had lost to the League Cup and Europa League finals of 2016.

However, Klopp’s dedication to his players was eventually recognized when he won the first trophy of his Liverpool reign with a 2-0 victory over Tottenham in the Champions League final.

The club’s pursuit of that trophy was akin to Klopp’s style of play, which Slot has refined rather than refined.

“Press the opponent, don’t let them get into the game,” argued Krawietz. They follow our instructions on the field, being dominant already without the ball, and then the first step is to win the ball high on the field and attack the goal.

“Over time, we had to adapt. Up until the very end, it was constantly learning without ever changing our fundamental beliefs.

He continued, “We as the managing staff were persuaded by our approach.

The next step is to persuade everyone around, turning doubters into believers, by saying, “We had to convince the players as well.

There is no better example of Klopp’s gameplan in action than their 2019 Champions League semi-final against Lionel Messi’s Barcelona, which Krawietz acknowledged was “wild “but” was part of the plan.

After falling to the Nou Camp in the first leg, the Reds looked hopeless before one of the most memorable comebacks in Champions League history, winning 3-0.

Jurgen stood up and said, “hey, gentlemen, this game is not over yet,” which was a very decisive moment in the dressing room right after the first game. There is half-time here. Yes, we are three points behind, but Liverpool hosts us at home for the week, according to Krawietz.

Football always means playing football with our hearts as well.

Before the second leg, Liverpool’s in-house data department had given them a 3.5% chance of defeating Barcelona, but as Mohamed Salah’s T-shirt read before the game, Klopp’s side “never give up.”

Liverpool’s opener was halted by Divock Origi, who pulled one goal back and two from Georginio Wijnaldum, who was “angry like crazy” not to start.

As Liverpool won 4-0, Trent Alexander-Arnold pretended to walk away from the ball before quickly turning and sending in a low ball that Origi swept in to cause scenes of bedlam as the team remained in the lead.

Our video analysts pay a lot of attention to set-pieces, Graham said, “but I didn’t know at the time.”

They were given a briefing because they had noticed that this was a constant theme: When Barcelona concede a corner, they are more focused on fighting among themselves than protecting the corner.

“Thanks to the video analysts, Trent and Divock for spotting the opportunity, and for doing so.”

Spurs eventually defeated Liverpool to win the top division in six games.

“Jurgen doesn’t find it difficult to play.” He inspires others. Effectively, he effectively forces you to run through a brick wall. The good news is that he will do it for you, according to Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson.

I just believe he was a genuine, compassionate person. He would always be hugs-free while walking around the training grounds.

He wanted the audience to experience it at that time. A good place to start was on the training ground. Everyone seemed to be working very hard, you could see that.

Klopp may have left, but his players have shown this season that the atmosphere he created at Liverpool and the “all-for-one, one-for-all” attitude he instilled in his players still apply.