THE Normal One. You absolutely nailed it there, Jurgen, lad. Hit it out the park. A press conference is a game and the new boss won it. The gathered media pack from all around the world had descended on Anfield this morning searching for a line. They got the line.
Liverpool fans, too, all around the world, tuned in for signs. To look at him. To listen. All the talk before he stepped out of a people carrier and in through the automatic doors in the middle of the Centenary Stand at Anfield had been of this left-field loon, a man who celebrates like crazy, necks ale, loves the fans, walks home with a rucksack — he was pitched as a rock star; a working class hero, something to be. Maybe all that will come later. First, there is the business of being the manager of Liverpool to deal with.
“Does he get it?” we all wondered. On the evidence of the first press conference at least, he gets it. All the issues, as Neil said in his piece earlier, tackled and boxed off. Get me to Melwood, lads. I’ve got a team to sort out.
Simon Hughes nudged me before a beaming Klopp walked in to a crowded room. “Do you reckon he’ll be the first manager to enter a press conference to heavy metal music?”
Would he stage dive on to the table and stun the world, we wondered. Do something mad? Walk in with a pint. He’s all wacky and zany after all, right? You’ve all seen the videos.
He did something better. He was cool, clear, calm and charming. He had the room eating from the palm of his hand. “He’s a cool bastard isn’t he?” I said to Melissa Reddy. She agreed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjuKyzRN6pE
And this wasn’t a room full of Liverpool supporters. This room contained people who will take great delight if it all goes wrong for this man. Lads who write about Liverpool clinging to the past and being a fallen giant what seems like every other weekend. I nearly had a word to be honest…
But Jurgen was enjoying himself, an almost permanent smile etched on his face throughout proceedings, a booming laugh so loud that when he was stood on the centre circle holding the scarf you could hear it halfway up the Centenary Stand.
There was almost a nonchalance about him; a sense of ‘it’s easy this, hurry up, I’ve got a team to manage’. He was bemused by the stage management of it all. The tinted windows on the car, the security, the fuss, the process — you sensed from him that he’d rather go and spend time with the players or have a look round town.
“The press don’t matter.”
“Hiding while people try to take photographs in the bathroom — it’s not my idea.”
Every question was fielded with ease. The Normal One line — it seemed like it was off the top of his head, and yet it had people almost squealing with delight.
Klopp is clearly a man who backs himself, and also a man who doesn’t take any nonsense. Yet he is also a man you could listen to all day. We’ll win but we need patience. Play your part. “Don’t say I’m Jesus then criticise me for not being able to walk on water.” What a line that is by the way. One of many.
Liverpool needs more than a man who can coach on the football pitch. Liverpool needs a leader. A man who can exude confidence but keep it classy. A man who is sure of himself but isn’t cocky. Surety, not ego. Klopp is all of this. Asked about the level of scrutiny the Liverpool job attracts, about the army of ex-players who will monitor and comment on his every action, he shrugged. “That’s your job,” he said. “I criticise myself I don’t need it from outside. I don’t think my decisions are perfect.”
It’s this binding of confidence and humility, alongside the track record of success, the European pedigree and, yes, the fact that he can be a bit mad, that has got us all so excited. And rightly so. If he’s so easily lifted a room of people who are renowned for their cynicism imagine what he can do to a room full of people on the same side as him who want to win football matches.
Appointing Jurgen Klopp was in many ways a common sense thing to do. Go out there and get the best man available for the job. But it was also a ballsy, bold and brilliant thing to do. And we’ve waited a long time for Liverpool to do something like that off the pitch.
Klopp hasn’t managed his first Liverpool match yet and it was ‘only a press conference’ yet Klopp nailed it. He put on a show but he wasn’t showy. He wasn’t a rock star but you wanted an encore.
Will Liverpool improve under Jurgen Klopp? As the man said himself, “Don’t ask silly questions and you won’t get silly answers.”
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Pics: Propaganda Photo
just had 101st orgasm in 24 hrs!!!!
better than sex. better than gas.
I’m straight as an arrow but when he started answering the German questions…in German, I gave myself :-)
Can you imagine being a player about to be coached by this guy, you’d run through walls….
Maybe we’re bigging him up too much, expect to lose half our games before Christmas and Chelsea to have themselves sorted before we meet, and they beat us 3:0.. so what, give this guy at least as long as we gave BR
me too ‘straight as an arrow’.
Hope Milner, along with the whole team, will also still be running through the brick wall for the new Man.
If the league can be won by the most charming manager then we will walk it.
There were many messages in his LFCTV interview and press conference for the fans. Patience, enthusiasm, evolution, enjoyment…..I could go on. But probably most of all we have to change from being doubters to believers.
Well, my belief level has soared and I hope it continues to do so.
Get in Jurgen lad!
Walk around him. Not alone mind.
‘Don’t say I’m Jesus then criticise me for not being able to walk on water.” What a line that is by the way. One of many.’
And one again, that suggests a through knowledge of Liverpool mythology, referencing Shankly (how are you getting to Ireland, Bill?) and Lennon (bigger than Jesus). This is no coincidence, he’s a very, very smart operator.
Plus a touch of countryman Berti Vogts:
‘If I said I could walk on water, my accusers would say it is because I cannot swim.”
Loved the way he took all of five words to make Mourinho look very very small and somewhat crass.
Spot on Baggio,
Whatever happens I love him for that alone.
Yep. Short too.
The level of envy and fear in our rivals is something I wasn’t expecting,
I think everybody knows this appointment is a good match,
Looking forward to his first TAW interview.
Isn’t that really it? He’s beaten that sawed off little twerp. He’s beaten LVG and Wenger. Klopp isn’t satisfied with just making top 4. And you get the sense Gooners and others know this.
Following that press conference, outside of Manchester (well, Salford) and west London, Liverpool just became most fans’ second favourite team.
I hope we do give him time. He mentioned that we will have won a league title within four years, but he’s only got a three year deal, right? I hope there’s nothing prescient in that…
If nothing else, this feels very Liverpool-ish. Our managers need to have presence and character, but without trying too hard to have either. On the early showings, Klopp is all that and much more.
SOrry mate but, be careful with your expectations… He didn´t say we will won the league title, he says a title, and in Germany “title” is referred to a legue title, or a cup.
He lasted at Dortmund for 7 years, right? I wouldn’t be too worried.
As press conferences go that was something. With the Owl I felt it was all about him and his now automatic recognition as a top manager. Rodgers said all the right things but I felt uneasy, as though it was a script. Klopp says it like it is. He is charismatic and that alone has been missing from our club for too long. Really looking forward to the ride. Smiles, fun and expectation are back.
Jurgen Klopp … will kill this gig. We will be champions again. I know he was fantastic at Dortmund. I didn’t know that he’s this fantastic.
Wilkommen Herr Klopp!
Only one complaint about the press conference: it wasn’t long enough! Could have happily listened right through lunchtime.
Jurgen Norbert Klopp is Liverpool manager in 2015.
I still can’t believe those words are true.
Really like the way he says ‘LFC’ and he said at some between now and 2019 we’ll have won the league. Jurgen, you had me at hello mate.
How the frig did you get in there – have they forgotten that you’re an enemy of the club?
Best line for me to the audience in that room: “Don’t ask silly questions and you won’t get silly answers.”
That’s all.
The old guys goes out furrowed brow, heavy laden eyes, the new guy come in all smiles, beaming. It makes you wonder how the hell Wenger has lasted so long in a job that generally makes mincemeat out of people after what 2-4 years.
Thought he handled it well, especially re the current squad. Although he seems a pretty straight forward talking bloke it would of been a bit naive to come in and slate areas of the squad he thinks need improving.
He has them for at least another 3 months at least before his first window so everyone starts fresh and has the opportunity to impress. With his own coaching staff assessing the squad that’ll give him a fair indication of who is doing what on the transfer committee.
Great also he said we’ll build from the back, finally some common sense in becoming difficult to break down. Thought his comments re Sahin were interesting as when he went to Dortmund I clearly remember thinking how come this lads good enough to be playing CL but can’t get in our side. Interesting to see if looks to create a side with players not being square pegs in round holes.
Hopefully he’ll be able to get enough out of them for a top 4 run in the new year.
What the fuck were you lot from TAW doing there?
Klopps appointment is fantastic. No doubt whatsoever. It’s also the most terrifying appointment LFC have made in my lifetime (I’m 40-something…)
My point being…….Where do Liverpool go from here? There are only 2 outcomes.
1. Klopp wins and Liverpool are up amongst the title contenders year in, year out.
2. Klopp loses……and Liverpool are back amongst the pack….Spurs, Southampton, Stoke……If Klopp loses, there is no ‘step up’ to the next manager who will do a better job…..If Klopp loses that is the end of Liverpool as a force.
So we need to do everything we can to make sure Klopp wins.
What I love is that we’re absolutely boss again, and we haven’t even kicked a ball yet.
Seen Hendo today at a soft play area with his wife and kids. Stayed my distance out of respect but I just wanted to run over and get his thoughts. (jump on him first and tell him I love him).
I persume he’s already spoken to him and he feels as excited as us! He was moving gingerly though.. He didn’t go on the slide once!
next time pls do us a favour ~ just run over and get his thoughts…:)
……i know u respect his privacy, but ‘time are a changing’ and i live thousand miles away fr Anfield…(if i come accross ex players or current player on vacation in the city where i am, i would do a quick friendly chat and get his specific thought on topic of the moment for sure);
Regret not going over now to be honest. Bit awkward though when he’s with his family. I’m 26 and it was my daughters 2nd birthday party, seen captain of lfc and I didn’t go over… Stupid decision I guess!
He was being left alone though so didn’t want to be the only pest.
The perfect antidote to bright young managers in shiny shoes