MY HAKA HEROES
Klopp inspired by All Black magic
JURGEN KLOPP is using the spirit of the All Blacks to ensure Liverpool continue to conquer.
The Reds boss takes his side into a game tonight as champions for the first time when they take on Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the Etihad.
And the challenge for the team that is now kings of Europe, Club World Cup winners and Premier League champions is: how do you keep going?
Klopp recalls his first summer as manager of Mainz when he was left in awe of New Zealand’s great rugby union side, and even got the German side fired up by the haka on their team bus.
“At Mainz I saw in the summer break this documentary,” he said.
“I was completely impressed by these big fellas and how they spoke about them.
“At that time, the All Blacks were by far the best in the world. I think they had a winning percentage of something over 70 per cent and it was a really impressive thing.
“They were all amateurs – maybe they got a little bit of money, I don’t know. They worked as butchers, as builders and all that stuff.
“These guys, these pretty impressive guys, just spoke about their past and what it meant to them to play for this team.
“The last two minutes before the Mainz team bus arrived at the stadium we always listened to the haka. When the door opened, I don’t know if people thought a bunch of boys would come out of the bus because it was pretty loud and impressive and it gave us a little kick.
“They were the All Blacks. Mainz’s main colour is red, so we made ourselves the ‘All Reds.’” Klopp has used New Zealand’s all-conquering attitude throughout his career and instilled it in a Liverpool side which can take another step towards a recordbreaking season with a win tonight.
“As long as you wear this shirt, less than 100 per cent is not allowed,” added Klopp.
“It’s not my phrase, it came from the All Blacks and I kept that always for myself. That is for each LFC player the same and for me the same.”
Liverpool will get a guard of honour tonight from last season’s champions and Klopp added: “It’s a nice gesture, 100 per cent. I wouldn’t need it because we want to go there and win a game. We won’t celebrate something we won a week before.”