Italian legend Alessandro Del Piero has heaped praise on Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, calling him a “coach of the future”.
The World Cup winner also compare the German to Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, suggesting that he was more adept at working with limited means.
Speaking to Sky Italia, as quoted by TEAMtalk, he said: “Klopp or Guardiola? Let’s take both of them to Italy. Guardiola has taught many, he has inspired so many players. We are talking about two managers with different personalities, let’s say Klopp is more a coach of the future.
“His attitude towards the media in more or less difficult situations proves it. I remember how he faced the post-Champions final. Usually one is always quite angry after losing a final, but he dealt with it all everything differently.
“I must say that this attitude has given a different freshness and his team proves it. They have energy and enthusiasm. With all due respect to Liverpool, there are not only big stars, we can certainly say that Klopp has improved many of them.”
OPINION
Del Piero is a certified legend of the game and his opinion should matter for an awful lot. You get the impression that as time goes by, and as Liverpool continue to challenge City for the mantle of top dog in the English game, there will be more and more comparisons made between Klopp and Guardiola. Who you prefer is purely a matter of opinion, of course. Guardiola obviously has the trophy record to back him in any debate, but there is always the suspicion that he has had everything pretty much handed to him. The best players at the biggest teams, he walks into the top jobs and gets results. By contrast, Klopp seems to do things the hard way. Taking over at teams that maybe aren’t quite the finished article and turning them into proper contenders, he stamps his personality on his sides in a way that few others can. Whoever you prefer, you can bet that the Reds wouldn’t swap the grinning German for the world.
