Jurgen Klopp, another wild 'riff' of the great motivator: "His secret is empathy"

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A few hours after falling in the final in Kiev, enveloped by the discouragement of a devastating defeat,

launched an omen that he himself would use as ammunition for his footballers: «The problem is not losing, but how long it will take you to win again ».

Under that gloomy warning, partially broken, a year later, against Tottenham at the Metropolitano, he was in the mood for a rematch against Real Madrid.

The great leader of the Champions League, the one who links seven victorious finals thanks to his competitive fury, demanded another step from Klopp in his method, based on constant progress.

This Saturday, after four years, the day has come for Liverpool.

There are several factors that explain the growth of this team, capable of polishing irresistible football through

, the forward pressure that defines a new era by itself.

“The longer you have the ball, the less negative things can happen to you, so if you lose it, you need to get it back as soon as possible.

After all, this system ends up making your life easier, ”summarizes Klopp, who after almost seven years at Anfield, has raised the automation to practically sick levels.

However, the evolution between that Liverpool that closed 2018 without titles and this one that lands in Paris in search of the treble, is not only based on the improvement of its nuclear weapon.

Nor in other tactical variables, such as those provided by

, playmaker as a false side, or

, an artist on the bridge.

work in the locker room

To understand the splendor of Klopp, you have to enter the sacred chamber of his locker room.

And few as well versed as

, the fourth player with the most appearances (279) under The Normal One. «Jürgen is an incredible motivator, capable of saving a group that ends up demanding the maximum in each game.

And that level stems from the same trust he places in his players, including the regulars on the bench.

In this Liverpool everyone tries to do what they can for the common good and not just for themselves, ”explains the former Dortmund goalkeeper to EL MUNDO.

His verdict fits with the percentage so many times formulated by

, Klopp's assistant: «The secret is to create a family.

It's about 30 percent tactics and 70 percent team spirit."

PAUL ELLISAFP

At this point, it is convenient to ask how a coach can convince his squad to undergo physical and mental wear and tear of such caliber.

“I think his secret lies in empathy, in how he knows how to get close to you and how he lets you get close to him.

I must say that today, seven years after we parted ways, we still maintain quite a bit of contact," continues the current Borussia ambassador.

Klopp exercises a leadership halfway between the friend and the father, between the spiritual mentor and the one obsessed with discipline.

None of his players at Mainz will be able to forget that 2004 preseason in Sweden, on the shores of a lake.

Without food, without telephones, without balls, camaraderie was a fishing rod and an ax to cut down a tree with which to light the fire.

Data management

Much has changed over these two decades in society and football, now dominated by computational variables whose control is decisive in matches like today's, favored by small details.

Klopp understood it a long time ago.

And he suffered it raw between 2012 and 2018, when he chained six defeats in finals.

However, one of his first conclusions after Gareth Bale's great goal was to locate his team's weakness in throw-ins, where he only kept possession of 45.4%.

After signing

, the world's leading expert on the subject, Liverpool increased their accuracy by 23 percentage points.

And two seasons later he had scored 14 goals from a throw-in.

Not satisfied, last summer Klopp hired the services of Neuro11, a German

specializing in neuroscience.

footballers

Some futuristic devices that analyze your brain activity shine in the sports city of Kirkby.

The objective, to help them in set pieces and penalties.

At the moment, Liverpool continues to falter in strategic actions, where it has only scored six goals (penultimate in the Premier in this section) and has received 14 (antepenultimate).

However, during the last two finals decided from 11 meters, both against Chelsea, there was not a single error to be regretted after 17 shots.

"Although Liverpool are the favourites, we all know that Real Madrid have not yet lost a Champions League final.

Of course I will support the reds, but I don't think you have to go to penalties to enjoy an incredibly exciting final, "Weidenfeller concludes.

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