Steven Gerrard has heaped praise on Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, calling him ‘a one in a million.’
Gerrard was speaking to Gary Neville about his journey as a manager for The Overlap.
When asked about how Klopp received him coming back to Liverpool to manage the U18 side in 2017, Gerrard said the 54-year-old was brilliant with him.
“I think with him he’s so comfortable in himself. He has so much belief and charisma in himself,” he said. “What he’s done before and the character that he is, I don’t think he saw it as a threat [coming back to manage the under-18’s]. Previous manager maybe would have. I got a feeling that he was open arms, excited to have me in.”
The Liverpool legend said he was a little unsure about heading back to Melwood initially. But Klopp’s warmth relaxed him.
“I felt uncomfortable going back to Melwood at first and I think once you’ve been out for a period of time, you feel like you don’t belong there any more – although you do,” said Gerrard.
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“Every time I met Jurgen Klopp anywhere, I see him walking his dog, I still feel like it’s open arms and it’s real.
“I think that’s because he’s so comfortable and for us as Liverpool fans, now I’m in the league competing I have to be careful what I say, but Liverpool fans should enjoy Jurgen Klopp. He is going to be one in a million.”
Manager’s like Jurgen don’t come around very often at all. It’s easy to forget that results like the one against Manchester United on Tuesday would have been impossible just a few years ago. Thanks, Jurgen!
Turning to Klopp for advice
It’s interesting to hear Gerrard talk about his time as a coach at Liverpool and it’s well worth listening to the full interview with Neville.
The 41-year-old has certainly taken the right route with his managerial career and had a good grounding at Liverpool.
Having been able to pick Klopp’s brains for the year or so that he was with the under-18’s will have been invaluable for his development.
Now as a rival Premier League boss, it seems doubtful that he would have the same open line of communication with Jurgen. But given the esteem in which the two men hold each other, you can’t rule that out completely.
Gerrard could probably do with some advice from the Liverpool manager at the moment. His time at Aston Villa has taken a turn for the worse after a really promising start.
Villa currently sit a disappointing 15th in the Premier League table having lost four games in a row.
They could yet have a big say in the title race, though. Liverpool are still to travel to Villa Park to face their old captain for the second time, while Manchester City entertain them in a potentially narrative laden final day of the season.