I am finding it hard to dislike Jurgen Klopp

On Saturday night, Liverpool recorded a comfortable 2-0 win over a lacklustre Tottenham in the final of the Champions League to win their sixth European Cup. The game was certainly not one for the purists, as both teams seemingly lacked energy.

Nobody connected with Liverpool will care about the game, though, as the Reds celebrated their team’s success. There is one man behind that success and that man is boss Jurgen Klopp.

Hard to dislike Jurgen Klopp

Even as a blue, I am finding it hard to dislike Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp. I should hate him. However, the truth is I have admired his work since his days as Dortmund boss. His managerial acumen was spot on at BVB, as he bettered the Bavarian behemoths Bayern Munich.

His style of football was fun to watch and it got results. Watching Dortmund was for many parts under Klopp an absolute pleasure to watch. I cannot say I take much pleasure in watching Liverpool.

However, it is hard not to see that they are a fantastic football team, with a head coach that knows exactly what he wants from the players. He gives everything to them and they give everything for him and the fans.

The passion he shows is good to see. Football is about emotion at the end of the day and the German seems to genuinely love the beautiful game.

Shrewd in the transfer market

Liverpool have become very shrewd in the transfer market in recent seasons. They have bought and sold very well. Buying the likes of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Alisson and maybe most crucially Virgil van Dijk has not come cheap.

However, by today’s standards, the fees that the Reds paid for such key players in the way the team plays are not crazy. Any team can go out and blow hundreds of millions on players, but if they are not the right players, then it is wasted money.

Liverpool’s recruitment has been key to their improvement in recent seasons. Slowly but surely each area of the team has improved over recent years.

The club’s negotiators also manage to get the best fees when selling players. Fringe players are often sold at a big profit, with Danny Ings’ £20million-plus move to Southampton a case in point.

Then there was a case of Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho’s big money move to Barcelona in January 2018. In truth, at the time the Brazilian seemed to be a big loss to the Reds. However, despite his sale, Klopp’s team made it to the Champions League final last season and also finished in the Premier League’s top-four. We all know what has happened this season.

Coutinho has struggled to convince in Catalonia. There is now talk that he could return to England, with Chelsea and Manchester United mooted as possible destinations for the former-Inter star. The sale proved a good one for the Reds.

Klopp can bring back the glory days to Liverpool

It would be a bit premature to say that the glory days are back at Anfield because the team has won the Champions League this season. However, the team’s triumph in Madrid coupled with their performance in the Premier League last season shows that Liverpool are close to a return to their glory days.

Of course, next season the Reds priority will be to challenge for the Premier League title. Liverpool are currently second favourites to win the title next season at odds of 11/4. Only reigning champions Manchester City are shorter odds to finish the campaign as Premier League champions.

Even after Klopp helped Liverpool to a trophy, I cannot dislike the German. My initial assessment on Klopp’s appointment was that he was a bad appointment, mainly for the other teams in the Premier League.

Unfortunately, my assessment seems like it might be correct and Jurgen Klopp has brought the good times back to Anfield. I just hope it doesn’t last too long!

Can Jurgen Klopp guide Liverpool to the Premier League title next season?