CALM IN THE STORM

Liverpool boss never lost his temper during dreadful run instead boosting his strugglers’ flagging confidence

JURGEN KLOPP revealed he’s rarely resorted to explosive anger in the dressing room during Liverpool’s recent dismal run.

Instead the Liverpool boss says that experience has taught him to stay calm after defeat and concentrate on repairing the fragile confidence of his struggling players – by reminding them just how good they are.

Klopp is well known for his antics on the touchline, often screaming at his players as he tries to get his instructions across during the heat of the game.

But in a Q&A session with a group of young Liverpool fans, the German explained how he has forced himself to take time out when emotions run high after setbacks.

Klopp said: “Possibly I get mad in the dressing room... possibly.

“But usually if we lost the game, I try... well then it makes real sense to go home and sleep a night before you then properly talk about it. As you get older you realise in a lot of situations in your life that it makes real sense when you feel anger you just step aside or go home and sleep a night and think a little bit.

“And then you talk about it and then the emotions are out and you can really speak about the things that really matter.”

Klopp has had plenty to get angry about in recent months with Liverpool losing a club-record six games in a row on home soil. That has seen them slip out of the title race and face a struggle to make the top four.

But they still have a chance to save their season in the Champions League, where they face Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.

And when asked how he’s helping his players rebuild their shattered confidence, he replied: “What I try to do in these moments is to remind the boys of their real quality, and believe in it. So be confident, stay confident, because with the quality they have, there is no reason not to be confident. Confidence is based on positivity – if you experience things yourself that is where you get confidence.

“You know yourself, if you score a goal in a game, you think next time, ‘If I’m in a similar situation then I will score again’. That is what confidence is. But if you did not score the last time, then it may be a little bit different. That is where you have to believe in your quality.”

Klopp, who was speaking to primary school children, was asked wide-ranging questions. On who would go in goal if he had no keepers, the answer... James Milner. And he also revealed that Andy Robertson is the joker in the squad while he was definite about his favourite single football moment, outside of winning trophies.

He said: “Without winning something, just for a game, the best moment is the Barcelona home game. That was, for sure, one of the best moments ever.”

THAT’S NOT TO SAY HE ALWAYS STAYED ENTIRELY COOL ON THE SIDELINES...