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Jurgen Klopp and Pepijn Lijnders have formed a world-class team at Liverpool, but the outgoing manager and his assistant disagreed on how to change the game.
Klopp, Lijnders and many of their colleagues have now left Merseyside, taking up ventures elsewhere or, in the boss’s case, enjoying semi-retirement.
Liverpool’s assistant manager will start working as head coach of Red Bull Salzburg this summer, supported by Vitor Matos, and will be hoping to emulate their success at Anfield.
The Dutchman will take lessons from his years under Klopp, although it is clear that their relationship has been one of equality more than anything else.
While spending time together in Liverpool, the pair held various interviews and events to say goodbye to the club.
According to The Athletic, during a gathering with all the club’s staff at Anfield where he hosted an hour-long question and answer session, Klopp was asked for advice on building a great squad.
“Build it around Bobby Firmino!” was the sincere answer of the Germans.
Speaking to The Redmen TV, however, Lijnders appeared to give a different take on the most influential player in Liverpool’s success.
“But the one who made everything possible,” he said of Liverpool’s No.1.
“Without this guy, there’s no way. No way, no way. You need a good, good goalkeeper to win trophies.”
Firmino and Alisson are undoubtedly the two most important players in the club’s recent success, so neither can be considered the ‘wrong answer’.
There are other contenders, with Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold all clearly in contention to have the biggest impact on this Liverpool side.
Put simply, it shows not only the quality with which Klopp and Lijnders were able to work, but also the ability to nurture their potential.
“Everybody thinks that we, tactically, are the inventors of everything,” continued Lijnders.
“Bobby Firmino invented that role, and knowing that he’s controlling this and Sadio and Mo in these positions, they’re playing here, winning the ball and being in counter-attacking positions to score.
“That was the idea, we use Mo, Sadie in the best (roles), we use Bobby in the best (role).
“But then we have new players, you have to start developing new ideas.”
It’s clear, then, that while Lijnders may believe Liverpool wouldn’t have won anything without Alisson, he’s as big a supporter of Firmino as Klopp.
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