Jurgen Klopp urges Liverpool to 'be brave, with fun in their eyes'

Thursday 15 October 2015 20:39, UK

Jurgen Klopp has told his Liverpool players to "open their chests" and play with "bravery and fun" in his first Premier League game against Tottenham on Saturday.

The German was installed as the new Reds boss last week following the sacking of Brendan Rodgers.

Klopp, who was joined by his trusted assistant Zelco Buvac on Thursday, admitted he has had a challenging first week, dealing with the paparazzi and many of his players being away on international duty.

But he said that he wants to instlil a new mentality in his team - starting at White Hart Lane on Saturday. He stressed that "stability" is his priority. Then, he feels, the goals will come.

"We want to look different, for sure," he said. "That's what I expect, that we can see that we have worked together. I want to see more bravery, more fun in their eyes, I want to see that they like what they do.

"I saw it in the week…then maybe we can be very well organised and not just think about offensive things. I know that we have not until now had enough goals, but you have to feel stability and that can make you are free for offensive play and creativity.

"Some things you can change like this. Mentality, readiness, you can change that like this.

"But to get really tuned as a team, that takes time. I'm not interested in the problems we could have on Saturday. After this game we will know more.

"The biggest problem we have, I met people who say 'we can win the league, we can win the league' and the others look and think 'what have you done.'

"You will find a way if you are patient enough, and don't think 'oh my God it is like last week, last year, whatever.' I want to get the players to trust themselves. I'm here because of them, because I can help these guys. We have to work together."

Klopp admits he is learning to deal with the challenges and attention that his arrival has generated as well as the standard problems facing managers after an international week.

"It's different," he said. "Things I have learned this week include trying to do some things for my private situation, but obviously the paparazzi know where I am going before I do.

"I have been here, talking to many people, and trying to understand how LFC works, and how it is. It's a big step, and everything is ok until now.

"We have had some problems with players that were with national teams, that is normal. It's always nervous waiting for the players to get some information. We had a 'not perfect' information in terms of young Joe Gomez [ruled out for the season by an injury picked up on England U21 duty] .

"We've had some good training, the boys are willing to listen, to understand what we want. It's not the time to change things, only in the right way. That's what we've tried to do."

Asked whether he truly appreciated the size of the club and the attention it brings, he said: "I never think about things like this. I don't like being photographed all the time, who does? It's a funny job to wait three hours for me to come out, take one photo and go home. But it's the situation.

"I'm interested in what we can do behind this door, not outside. I am told it will cool down soon, but hopefully not because of results.

"I don't read what you write. I'm completely free of expectations. My pressure that I place on myself is enough. I'm completely in the middle, and can work with the boys."

Looking ahead to the Spurs clash, he said: "We have to start new, a restart. I'm not interested in what happened a few weeks ago, only in what we can do to be stable in a game, to close all our doors and, if possible, give a little bit out.

"We have to be active, ready for work, and to enjoy the game. We are playing against a very good team that has been together for some time. They (Spurs) look fine-tuned, good together. We know how they want to play, but it's important to analyse our own situation.

"If nothing happens in the next training sessions, I know how I want to play. At the end, it's only football. And all these guys can play good football. That's the reason they are here."