OPINION
To say that Jurgen Klopp is a manager who is not afraid to speak his mind might be underselling the Liverpool boss somewhat.
The German is one of the most open, honest and charismatic figures the top flight has ever seen in the dugout and his charm, along with turning the Reds into genuine contenders both domestically and in Europe, is why he is adored by the Anfield faithful.
He is also totally honest with his players – at least that is what Dejan Lovren has insisted.
The Croatian looked to be leaving Anfield this summer after tumbling down the pecking order under Klopp but instead has remained on board, a move to Roma falling through before the European transfer window closed on Monday.
The 30-year-old, who has not featured in a single matchday squad in the Premier League this season, has revealed that Klopp was willing to let him go after being unimpressed following his return from the World Cup in 2018.
However, Lovren went on to state that the German pulled a u-turn on the centre back, insisting he needed him on board at Liverpool despite understanding his frustrations at not playing.
Speaking to Sportske Novosti, the out-of-favour defender said: “When I returned (from the World Cup), some things Coach Klopp didn’t like. I also had a few conversations with the coach, we talked about what will be next season, this is the one that started it. Klopp was clear, he told me, if you found a club, if you wanted to leave, you could go.
“Coach Klopp told me, man, look, you’re a top-class player, we’re not letting you go on loan. Then he repeated what he had said before: we need you. He told me that he understood me completely, that he knew that I was not satisfied
“At the end of the conversation, he said, look, now that all this is over, let’s start over, reset your head, you are important in my thinking.”
Going back on a sort of promise might infuriate most players and even most people in their day-to-day life but Klopp put the football club first – something every manager should do.
Not only that, but he made sure to explain to Lovren why he was making the decision to keep him on board, doing what he could to try and satisfy the defender despite what would have been a bitter pill to swallow.
The manager once again shines through as a class act at Anfield and this insight into his management style shows why he is the perfect fit for Liverpool.
