29 March 2024 , 22:30
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Jurgen Klopp has heaped praise on potential successor Roberto De Zerbi as he admits he loves to watch Brighton under the Italian.
The Liverpool boss has yet to beat De Zerbi’s Seagulls in four attempts as they prepare to host them at Anfield on Sunday. Klopp is hoping he can end that run so his side can keep on pace in the Premier League title race.
But the departing Kop boss will be coming up against a manager who has been linked to replace him this summer and he admits he’s a fan of his football - even if he couldn’t coach like him. Klopp said: “The way they play. It’s a really different way. I couldn’t coach that. It goes against my personality!
“But it’s a good watch, very demanding for the players - clear positioning. Hold your position, keep your position, pass at the right moment. He’s a top coach, doing really well, super interesting to see. That makes it tricky. It’s just a different way.
“Possession-based but even more structured from a positional point of view than maybe Manchester City or whatever where they have a bit more freedom. Brighton, on their day, can beat any team. But good news: we can do that as well.”
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Klopp reckons Liverpool need to bring some chaos at Anfield to unsettle De Zerbi’s structure. The Brighton boss is believed to be one of a number of names under consideration to take over from the German this summer
Klopp said: “It’s difficult to play against them. They are super-dominant, and you cannot do that with no training. You cannot just put the line up on the wall and say ‘that’s how we play’. There’s a lot of work behind that, a lot of convincing the players because he changed a lot.
Jurgen Klopp is an admirer of Roberto De Zerbi's coaching methods (AFP via Getty Images)“They don’t just have one way. The philosophy is the same, but the ways they can develop their game is different and so we have to make sure we are really spot on, create chaos from time to time - against a clear plan, chaos can be the answer sometimes.
“In other situations we have to be patient, and on the ball we have to be really good. And I like a lot that the way we play usually now, recently, makes it difficult for other teams to find a way against that as well. From a coaching point of view, it’s an all-in game.
“We need all our information, all our knowledge, and [then] don’t give that to the players because otherwise they become a bit stiff when they have to move free as well.”
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