Collective spirit so crucial to Jurgen & Shankly

IT is typical of Jurgen Klopp, that on the day he delivered the greatest prize of all to Liverpool, he spent his time highlighting the work of ‘heroes’ during the coronavirus crisis.

Typical and revealing. Because the German coach, in addressing the incredible work of Fans Supporting Foodbanks and the Merseyside PPE hub, spoke of “the people’s problems being our problems”, and his pride in the “solidarity” of the community.

There, in a few words, was the philosophy which explains how Klopp has created champions, has turned his Liverpool side into one of the greats, has secured the club’s first title in 30 years.

I once asked Klopp if he could simply sum up his philosophy. He spoke eloquently of the values he instills, not just in players, but in the whole team around him.

It is a sense, he said, of common purpose and of sharing responsibility. It is not rocket science, he said.

“You can’t reinvent football. All the sides we compete with, they are absolutely brilliant. Good coaches, supremely prepared, physically fit. Tactically disciplined. We can’t be better than them all in that way.

“So, how can you make the difference if each team is perfectly prepared? How do you win?

“The answer for me is the closer you are, the more you do it for each other. Make a sacrifice for each other, suffer for each other.”

Klopp famously has a picture of Bill Shankly, arms spread wide, on his office wall. It is not there for effect or comparison, but a reminder of the words of Liverpool’s most celebrated manager on the socialism he believed in.

Shankly (above) spoke of collectivism, of everyone working for each other in football, and in life. But a less famous quote of his suggests a team is like a piano… where eight must carry it, so three can play the damn thing.

Klopp echoes that idea. At Liverpool, he extends the weight not just to his squad, but everyone who works there. “If you only have one who plays with pressure, and 10 without, it will never work. So everybody needs to feel responsible and important,” he said.

“All of the people here needs to feel important. Normal characters become super characters. It’s about togetherness. That’s not football, it’s actually life.”