Jurgen Klopp has explained what Steven Gerrard needs to do to be in a position to replace him as Liverpool manager one day. The Reds legend will make his first return to Anfield in the opposing dugout this weekend after taking over at Aston Villa last month, and continues to be touted to take over at his former club in the future.
Jurgen Klopp said: “I have no idea how that feels. How it is when you enter a dressing room and the players think, “Oh my god, it’s him!” I don’t know. You have to make all the steps. You have to learn the job. It helps if you are a world class player because you have good football understanding but you have to be ready to make all the steps. Most of the managers have to do all the necessary steps to learn the job, to learn about different needs over a day. I don’t know exactly know what Zidane did before he took Madrid. Don’t know exactly if he did Madrid B or not but Pep was at Barcelona B for example. Maybe not too long but he learned there. It’s all these kind of things and you have to do it. That’s the situation. There might be some people out there who are just geniuses football-wise and know exactly how the rest works as well. Maybe they are out there but it’s not likely so it makes absolutely sense. It’s not easy, I didn’t say it’s not possible but usually you have to take a step back and start working and Stevie did. He started with the youth team pretty early then came the opportunity with Rangers. Rangers is a big club and it was a big step immediately but he did incredibly well. That’s why he is well-prepared now.”
And Klopp was full of praise for Gerrard ahead of his return to ‘his club’ when sharing his delight at the former Liverpool captain’s success in management so far.
Jurgen Klopp said: “To have this kind of relationship with people says a lot about Stevie. I’m here six years and since I’m here, I didn’t hear one word of, “Stevie’s a great player, but…” There was not one but. Everyone is only positive. When you meet him you realise what a great guy he is actually. The talent he had could have led to a lot of strange characteristics, let me say it like this, but obviously he’s a really good guy, which is nice. Everybody is happy for him that he is doing well. Now he is coming back. To his club. It is his club, not for 95 minutes I know, all fine. It will be strange for him but he will fight with all he has.”
