Dalglish backs new Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to succeed

Sport360 staff 06:25 10/10/2015
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  • Unveiling: Klopp.

    Kenny Dalglish has advised Liverpool supporters to “fasten their seat belts” for life under new Reds boss Jurgen Klopp.

    The 48-year-old German addressed the media on Friday morning for the first time since his appointment was confirmed. He described himself as “the normal one” and said he was committed to “full throttle” football –a philosophy he built in seven successful years at Borussia Dortmund before leaving earlier this year.

    Dalglish, the last manager to bring the league title to Anfield back in 1990 and a winner of six league titles and three European Cups with the Reds as a player, said: “I just heard Klopp’s press conference and he sounds very, very impressive. I think the supporters will need to fasten their seat belts – I’m sure they will really enjoy him.

    “He seems to be somebody who’s not in love with himself, which the Liverpool supporters can relate to. I’m sure they will take him to their hearts. He’s described himself as ‘the normal one’ and that will do them fine because they regard themselves as being pretty normal.

    “I don’t know him – I’ve only seen snippets on TV or radio but he came across very, very well this morning and I think that augurs well for everybody.”

    Klopp’s reign begins with a difficult trip to Tottenham a week on Saturday, followed by home outings against Rubin Kazan and Southampton in the Europa League and Premier League respectively.

    Dalglish added: “He’s got off to a fantastic start but it’s a really difficult run of games coming up and I’m sure, as he said this morning, he is going to work as hard as anybody else and if everybody works together it’s not rocket science – (if ) everybody works together you’ve got a much better chance of success.”

    Meanwhile England manager Roy Hodgson has warned Klopp of the huge expectations at Anfield. Hodgson was sacked as Reds boss in January 2011 after just 31 games having failed to impress both the club’s owners and the fans in the stands.

    Speaking to talkSPORT, Hodgson said: “It’ll be interesting to see what Jurgen Klopp can do there. He’s a charismatic manager and has a lot of energy. I wish him well in what is going to be an exciting job, though it won’t be an easy one, because they haven’t really achieved what the Liverpool fans want to achieve for a number of years now.”

    Elsewhere, Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, who Klopp signed in 2011 and helped nurture him into becoming one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe, had Liverpool fans excited, as he reacted to the news.

    Gundogan, whose move to Anfield, in reality, is extremely unlikely given he signed a new deal at Dortmund in July and is thriving under Thomas Tuchel’s management, wrote on Twitter: “Wow! What hype about Klopp becoming new manager of Liverpool… I’m sure he’ll bring the Reds back to the top of the Premier League and I wish him all the best.”

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