While Jurgen Klopp managed to get the most out of Divock Origi, the Belgian striker has struggled since leaving Liverpool – and his manager has a theory as to why.
Origi scored 41 goals in 175 games during seven years at Liverpool and left as a legend in 2022, but has been unable to get back on his feet since.
After a frustrating time at Milan, who he joined on a free transfer, the 29-year-old spent the last campaign on loan at Nottingham Forest.
In the last two seasons, Origi played 58 times, but only 18 as a starter and with only three goals for Milan and Forest.
In his live Q&A on Evening with Jurgen Klopp on Tuesday, Klopp cited Origi as a “good example” of how to manage the team’s players, and explained why he believes he has stuttered since then.
“He seems to have really worked here and succeeded here, in the role he had,” Klopp said.
“The reason why we see Divock in a different way is because I knew Divock before the Everton lad, (Ramiro) Funes Mori, killed his ankle. He was incredible.
“He played at Borussia Dortmund, a game I’ve never seen from a striker, to be honest. That was completely insane.
“The best striker in Europe and at that moment he was 19, maybe 20 years old – in Europe, in that match, in that specific match.
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“Then things happened. You are relegated, a very bad match, and then he comes back for the Europa League final, he was in a bit of a hurry, because it was the final, he tried to get on the field, it didn’t go well.
“And at a really important stage in his career, he couldn’t get the confidence, he couldn’t learn how good he really was.
“So we used him the way we used him. Unfortunately, he had a few too many injuries, but we still used him.”
There was understanding among the fans when Origi decided to leave two years ago when his contract expired, and the Belgian representative deserved a starting role.
But playing under two different managers on loan at Forest sums up the difficult situation he faced, as there was less close-range support than he had under Klopp.
“You just have to be honest and reliable. If you say something, it should happen,” the outgoing manager continued.
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“If I say to a player ‘you’re not going to start this week but you’re going to start next week’ and he doesn’t start next week, then you’ve got a problem.
“But I would never say these things, because I have no idea who will be playing next week!
“It’s about that. It’s about respect, and the role is to improve the players.
“I just never knew any other way”
“That’s my job, so I can’t let them hang in the corner when they’re not feeling well, I have to get them out of there. I have to try to help them.
“And for that, again, you need real energy. I have to take that step, players don’t come to me immediately after he doesn’t do great.
“It’s important for me to catch him as soon as possible in a situation like this, so I can help him as soon as possible and not let him go too far in the wrong direction.
“That’s how I understood the business. Other managers do it differently, they are more successful and things like this, I just didn’t know otherwise. That’s it.”
