For a sport so full of surprises, football has a remarkable habit of being utterly predictable at times.
When the Europa League quarter-final draw was announced, it was no shock to see Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund pitted together. It was inevitable. Now, all eyes will be on Jurgen Klopp as he makes his return to the Westfalenstadion on Thursday night for the first time since departing last year.
The context to this clash has created arguably the most anticipated tie in the competition’s history. Certainly, few ties have been met with quite the enthusiasm as the one in Dortmund, and for good reason.
While there has been near endless pontificating in the build-up, it’s difficult not to be carried away with the romanticism of this clash.
The marriage of red and yellow and the fusion of two history-rich clubs united in song – prepare for a unique rendition of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ – all adds to the dewyeyed nature of Thursday night.
In seven years at Dortmund, Klopp took a financially-crippled giant and turned them into one of the most vibrant forces in Europe. ‘Kloppo’ lead them to two Bundesliga titles, including a 2011-12 domestic double, and then a Champions League final.
He did it by channelling his energetic touchline demeanour into a squad that could emit that vivacity on the pitch. They broke at speed, pressured relentlessly and exuded a fearless attitude; characteristics perhaps best exhibited in the 2012 DFB Pokal final, when Dortmund swarmed Bayern Munich into a 5-2 submission.
But their success wasn’t restricted to the domestic scene. An undoubted high point for Klopp’s Dortmund was the scarcely believable 4-1 demolition of Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final a year later.
Robert Lewandowski ran riot that night, earning a now trademark cuddle from the German. And it is this endearing charm and charisma, which Dortmund fans no doubt miss.
Klopp is a man who wears his heart on his tracksuit sleeve and they adored him for it. Yes, arguably Thomas Tuchel’s resurgent BVB are a step above – they are unbeaten in 2016, winning 15 and drawing just two – but few managers have resonated so deeply with their fans.
His wild gesticulations and passionate touchline celebrations are reserved for the Kop now, and not the ‘Yellow Wall’. But although Tuchel conducts himself differently, what he has achieved is cold hard consistency.
An almost disastrous 2014-15 campaign (a fading Dortmund found themselves in the relegation zone for the first half of the season) steered Klopp to the exit door but they’ve returned refreshed under his ‘doppelganger’.
Klopp putting #LFC through their paces. 10 aside match on a small pitch.... pic.twitter.com/CdlEteC9Nn
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) April 6, 2016
While Dortmund lured Klopp’s mirror-image, a charismatic young manager, from the same club, Mainz, there are some obvious differences in Tuchel’s BVB. They are much more patient now, quite content to pass it across the back-line and explode through the exceptional movement and cool finishing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Klopp fundamentals are still there, they press at every opportunity but now the aim is to stabilise rather than mount an immediate attack. They run less but pass more and use width as a primary attacking source, which has ushered in the resurgences of Henrikh Mkhitaryan – who never really produced his best under Klopp – and a consistently fit Marco Reus.
While Klopp is indeed right, this is a tie only football can write, the reality of the task ahead for his new team will no doubt dampen his ardour. Dortmund will be delighted to welcome back their icon but you can’t help but imagine the feeling is not mutual for the German.
The Black and Yellows are the best team left in the competition and for Klopp, this two-legged love affair will make clear in black and white what changes will be needed to mould his Reds.
There have been glimpses of what Liverpool fans hope to expect under Klopp, not least the manner in which Manchester United were put away in the previous round. But against the Bundesliga’s second powerhouse they take on the strongest side they’ve faced all season.
What this tie offers Liverpool, is a view of what’s possible when Klopp is at the helm.
