The former Borussia Dortmund coach gave
a captivating performance at his unveiling
and if the early indications are anything to
go by, he will be a huge hit at Anfield
At 8.30am, the Reds Lounge in Anfield’s
Centenary Stand was already swarming.
Every section packed, every plug point
taken, every attendee eager to assess
whether the perception and reality
aligned.
Jurgen Klopp insisted he was The
Normal One at his first press conference
as Liverpool manager, but the evidence
suggested otherwise.
He had the media pack completely affixed
to his every answer. Energetic and
unscripted, he approached each question
with ease and intelligence in equal
measure. Even the supposedly ‘tough’
ones couldn’t stand up to him.
Klopp laughed at the “really crazy
discussion” around the transfer committee
and wouldn’t succumb to the weight of
expectation. Money? Four clubs with
better resources? He’s not worried about
that, he’s worried about the football.
Tied down by the glorious history?
Klopp’s not going to carry that around like
a heavy backpack. It's about the present.
Concerned about the quality of the team?
Not a chance. He thinks it’s got
everything needed to work well. A quarter
of a century without the title? He reckons
he’ll deliver at least one within four years.
The last time Anfield had an audience,
boos filled the stadium as Liverpool failed
to beat Sion in the Europa League. On
Friday, it was the German’s guffaw that
trumpeted around the ground. Klopp was
correct in his assertion that doubt and
pessimism has plagued the club’s
fanbase. But that was before it became
obvious he’d be the new man in the
dugout.
On Thursday, his movements from outside
his house to Mainz to the inside of his
hotel on Hope Street were frantically
followed. Even Klopp’s flight on a private
plane from Dortmund to John Lennon
Airport was tracked, with updates
regularly posted on Twitter. The euphoria
has been building to a crescendo.
Supporters see the reconstruction of the
Main Stand and they now envisage a
restoration of Liverpool’s fortunes too.
The first step to winning is having an
unswerving belief that you can, and Klopp
has that packed into every inch of his six
foot four frame.
The 48-year-old is exactly what Liverpool
need right now - a hypnotic leader who is
all about the football. All about emotional
football. All about entertaining football.
All about getting the best out of
footballers.
No politics. No pretence. No punches. The
fight will be saved for the pitch.
He knows his real work hasn’t started yet.
But that’s all he craves - the training
sessions, the matches, the atmosphere.
The shame is that there is still a wait of
over a week to endure before Anfield can
truly welcome its new manager.
October 17 and the visit of Tottenham
cannot come soon enough.
Klopp insisted "it’s not important what
people think when you come in, but what
they think when you leave."
If he’s started as he means to go on, The
Normal One will long be loved in these
parts.
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