Jürgen Klopp: "The Best Training is Our Matches"

There are lots of interesting questions,
though, in the months ahead on how
Klopp will approach rotation. It was a
surprise for some to see such a strong
team selected for a Europa League
game, but Liverpool hadn't won a
European game all season after three
draws in three games. History was
made in Russia on Thursday, and
furthermore, a winning momentum
was maintained.
Since his arrival at Anfield, Klopp has
been clear with his ideas and beliefs
about football. Liverpool fans,
neutrals, and rivals have seen them
transferred to his players quickly and
efficiently in such a short space of
time. Perhaps the increased workload
compared to German football gives
Klopp more matches to implement his
methods, something that he might see
as an advantage in his situation. He
provided an unequivocal assessment,
however, of how big European ties
should be handled.
"If you play Champions League, you
are playing Wednesday and
Saturday," Klopp said with his usual
charm. "Nobody says ‘okay, come on,
go to Real Madrid with 17 year old
guys!’ – that is not fair for them. They
get experience but not the experience
they should get. Where is the
difference (with Thursday and
Sunday)? Is the only benefit that you
like the other tournament more?
"We have to play. We cannot rest.
That is our situation. This has been
really good. Four weeks, it’s a short
time we’ve been working together. Six
games? That is not a big number and
we have a common experience. We
can work with this. The best training
at the moment is our matches. It is
very intensive. It is good for physical
condition and it is good to talk about
after games. It’s much easier when we
win."
The part about Real Madrid may raise
eyebrows considering Brendan
Rodgers' approach to the two games
against the Spanish giants last season.
Although it must be noted that
Liverpool didn't fare too badly in both
games despite losing home and away
along with failing to score. Liverpool
won't be putting out considerably
weaker sides for European games
anymore judging by Klopp's words and
actions. Only four changes were made
for Thursday's game, and even then,
Christian Benteke is hardly a reserve
striker.
On getting to know each other,
Liverpool's players always seemed to
be a well-knit bunch during Rodgers'
tenure. What's necessary at this stage
is understanding a manager with quite
a demanding and specific way of
playing. One could think that this
international break will be an
important one for Liverpool, as Klopp
will get training time with players
who don't have commitments
elsewhere, but the next international
break will take place in March. This
month or six games have been a pre-
season of sorts before a run of four
interrupted months of club football.
The absence of a winter break to give
the starting and only fullbacks players
rest will be a challenge for Klopp's
methods in English football.
Additionally, the Bundesliga has 18
teams compared to the English
Premier League's 20 so Liverpool play
four more league games in the season
than Borussia Dortmund, and there's
an extra domestic cup to consider too.
However, the Swabian didn't blame
the Europa League for the heavier
schedule in England.
"If you think we have too many
matches then stop playing at
Christmas," the 48-year-old remarked
bluntly. "This tournament, for no
team in the world, is a problem. Only
because there is no break is there a
problem maybe. We will see this.
What would you have said if we had
gone to Kazan with a youth team? For
the moment, everything is okay.
"There are many games but the
Europa League is not a problem for
English teams. No. No winter break
might be the problem. It is not a
problem for me because I knew about
it before (I came to Liverpool). But the
Europa League is a great tournament
and I like it."
It's good to see a manager give
European football the respect it
deserves and understand its
importance for Liverpool. The Europa
League may not have the glamour and
top-level prestige of the Champions
League, but since the tournament was
branded as "the Europa League",
Atlético Madrid (twice), FC Porto,
Chelsea , and Sevilla (twice) have won
it. Trying to join them is a worthwhile
endeavour. Rafa Benítez understood
the importance of Europe to good
effect at Valencia , Liverpool, and
Chelsea.
European fixtures without a winter
break may hamper Liverpool's
chances in domestic competitions, but
the onus is on the management team
and players to find a way of
progressing as far as possible in
Europe while remaining competitive
on home soil. It's a difficult balance to
strike, and playing fatigue isn't some
finely woven myth. Maybe the
solution will lie in the attitude the
players will adopt from Klopp. He
went on to say that his two fullbacks
"have to run" and "need games" so
maybe the philosophy is to just keep
going!
Rotation, improving the depth and
quality within the squad, and
becoming accustomed pushing for
everything on offer will help in time.
The addition of a winter break doesn't
look close to happening over the next
couple of seasons and beyond so
Liverpool and Klopp will need to find
another way. It's refreshing to see that
dismissing the Europa League isn't
part of it, and hopefully, Champions
League football will occupy the minds
of those connected to a club with great
European tradition.
Crystal Palace will provide an early
test of the dreaded Thursday-Sunday
schedule, and it is hoped that Alan
Pardew's players leave Anfield with
no points to show for their efforts.