Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has backed the club’s new fitness coach Andreas Kornmayer to make the difference for the Reds this season. The German boss has admired Kornmayer’s talents from afar watching Jupp Heynckes’ Bayern Munich win the treble in 2013 as he managed league rivals Borussia Dortmund.
Kornmayer was an integral part of Heynckes’ coaching staff as they played an aggressive, fast, counter attacking style which destroyed Barcelona 7-0 over two legs in the Champions League semi-final on their way to winning the trophy. Klopp is quoted by the Liverpool Echo as saying that Kornmayer is an “absolute mastermind” of what he does.
“First of all he’s an absolute mastermind in all the things he has to do for us. He’s an experienced guy who has worked together with the best teachers and the best players. Education and experience are the most important things in this job and he combines these two things in the perfect way. We didn’t know each other before he came here, but he fits really well. I think the players will feel the benefit. Athletic fitness, it’s not a case of ‘do it today, feel it tomorrow’, it’s all about doing the right things and then repeating them to reach the next level.”
Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has commented a week in to training after his return from holiday that it is the most intense preseason he has ever been involved in. Kornmayer plans triple training seasons with 7am starts. We will have to wait and see whether the fitness work pays dividends when the first match of the Premier League kicks off in two weeks time.
