De Zerbi: Klopp praises potential Liverpool successor – ‘I couldn’t coach that’

Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp was filled with reward for his Italian counterpart at Brighton, Roberto De Zerbi, who has been tipped as one of many potential successors for the German when he leaves Anfield on the finish of this season, when previewing their upcoming Premier League assembly this weekend.

De Zerbi and Brighton will journey North to face Liverpool at Anfield on Easter Sunday, kicking off at 14.00 GMT.

De Zerbi is among the only a few coaches that Klopp has come up in opposition to and didn’t beat.

Since changing Graham Potter on the Amex in September 2022, the previous Sassuolo coach has picked up two wins and two attracts from 4 matches in opposition to Liverpool throughout the Premier League and FA Cup.

De Zerbi is now one of many frontrunners to succeed Klopp at Liverpool when he leaves on the finish of the 2023-24 season.

Following Xabi Alonso’s resolution to stay at Bayer Leverkusen within the Bundesliga for 2024-25, De Zerbi and Sporting CP coach Ruben Amorim are among the many bookies’ favourites.

What Klopp stated about De Zerbi

Throughout his pre-match press conference on Friday, Klopp admitted that De Zerbi has his Brighton gamers enjoying in ‘a unique approach’ to what he’s often accustomed, suggesting that he ‘couldn’t coach’ in that very same approach.

“Roberto is doing clearly an unimaginable job there and it’s a unique recreation in opposition to Brighton, undoubtedly. I feel we improved over 18, 20 months since he’s there,” Klopp advised reporters on the AXA coaching centre.

“The primary recreation was stunning. I feel we have been the primary opponent after he joined the membership, if I’m proper, and we had no clue what we have now to count on.

“We knew how he performed in his former membership, we knew what Graham (Potter) did, however no one knew how that may look in the long run and it was fairly spectacular how fast he clearly received the crew in his approach.

“Since then, it solely received higher, it’s actually spectacular. It’s a unique approach of enjoying soccer.”

Klopp additionally steered that De Zerbi’s teaching rules differ to his personal, however believes that the Italian is destined for the highest.

“The best way they play. It’s a very totally different approach, I couldn’t coach that, it goes in opposition to my character, however it’s watch. It’s very demanding for the gamers, it’s clear positioning, maintain your place, preserve your positioning, move in the fitting place, move in the fitting second.

“He’s a prime coach, he’s doing very well. It’s super-interesting to see. I like watching them, to be sincere. That makes it difficult. It’s only a totally different approach. It’s possession-based however much more structured from a positional perspective from every participant than possibly Metropolis or whoever has a bit extra freedom in. They do very well.

“On their day, they’ll beat any crew. However now, excellent news, we will try this as properly, so we’ll strive.”

Jürgen Klopp analysed the ‘super-interesting’ challenges his aspect will face once they come up in opposition to Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday 👊#LIVBHA

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 29, 2024