We Can do it TITLE ON EMRE’S MIND
Mazzarri says Klopp’s his idol
STEVE MILLAR way to go. We have to look not to tomorrow but look to today.
“We can dream. Everybody can dream and you have to see the truth. Every year in the Premier League every team is improving. Every team is buying new players.
“But we bought new players as well. We bought very good players. Everyone wants to go and give everything for the team and that, I think, is the most important thing.”
Can is proud to help re-establish Anfield as a tough place for opposing teams to visit with Klopp reproducing the fear factor the Liverpool star remembers from his days in the Bundesliga.
He added: “I think if teams come to Anfield they don’t think they will win the games easily. It is not nice to play against us.
“I know that because when I used to play against a Jurgen Klopp team in the Bundesliga, it was never nice to play against them. They always counter-pressed.
“If you had the ball, the opponents are coming and you have to play quickly. That is what I think teams are thinking about us.”
Now, Can, 22, is ready to commit his future to Liverpool with talks over a new deal already well under way.
He has 19 months left on his current contract after signing from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2014 for £9.75million.
Liverpool have already opened negotiations with his representatives and Can said: “Yes, they have spoken to my manager and the talks are going very well. I have one-and-a-half years left and you never know.” WATFORD manager Walter Mazzarri sees beating Liverpool as another step towards becoming a big club.
He accepts there is still a long way to go to achieve his dream but so far, ‘Things are beautiful’.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool present another stern test today but Mazzarri (below) said: “We have to grow. I always had teams in the past that had an idea and a way of thinking and to change the mentality to make them grow.
“These are all steps – I call them steps. The first one was West Ham and then Man United. This is another step.
“If we want to grow, these are very important games for us. Things are beautiful.
“I like special atmospheres. I am looking forward to Anfield. It is a special feeling.
“This is a big test from my point of view, a great test because I always tell my players the important thing is their mentality. They always have to concentrate on the pitch and think only about what is on the pitch and nothing else, mainly for the away games.
“I want to see if they are ready to play against one of the great teams.”
Mazzarri envies Klopp’s relationship with Liverpool fans and is hoping he is gradually building the same at Watford. He added: “I don’t know if every manager should have the same relationship as Klopp does with his fans. “It comes naturally to be the first fan of Watford as I always want the team to win and prepare my team for that.
“It is a good relationship to have with the fans. I feel the club is like a family.
“For me, it comes naturally the feeling I have with my fans.
“I think I faced Klopp when I was with Napoli but I don’t really remember. Not sure if it was a friendly or Europa League. I don’t really remember.”
TONY STENSON