Lovren: Klopp’s fresh start began by telling players to clean plates
JURGEN KLOPP started small with his Liverpool revolution, says Dejan Lovren. Like telling his players to say “good morning” to everyone at the training ground and clearing up their plates in the canteen.
But it is those little things that helped turn the team from Premier
League also-rans into kings of Europe again in the space of four years.
Liverpool face Spurs on Sunday – Klopp’s first opponents as Reds boss on October 17, 2015.
That game came just days after the German had promised to turn the red half of Merseyside from doubters into believers.
“We started to believe when he told us to go ‘from doubters to believers’,” said defender Lovren, after Liverpool’s 4-1 Champions League win over Genk.
“He changed things, from details like saying good morning to everyone to cleaning your table. I was raised to clean my table – so he didn’t have to tell me! I think some part of these details are missing in some clubs.
“We’re taught that when you see an older person you say ‘good morning’.
“It is about respect. When you have this outside the pitch, you will feel it also on the pitch.”
Liverpool go into the weekend as the Premier League leaders and champions of Europe. When they faced Spurs in 2015, though, they were 10th and Spurs seventh.
“Things can change quickly,” said Lovren. “With improvement, belief and the work of the team, you can achieve anything.
“This is what Klopp said. He told us that it is exceptional to lose the Champions League final against Real Madrid and win it the next – it says a lot about the team.”