RB Leipzig host Liverpool within the Champions League on Wednesday as Jurgen Klopp’s latest previous and not-too-distant future collide. The 57-year-old won’t be there on the Pink Bull Enviornment on Wednesday however his shadow nonetheless looms over the competition. Klopp stepped down as Liverpool supervisor in the summertime citing exhaustion after a profitable nine-year spell which included lifting the Champions League and Premier League. In October, Klopp introduced his return to soccer, not as a coach however operating Pink Bull’s soccer operations, which oversees golf equipment in a number of cities together with Leipzig, Salzburg and New York.
He will likely be absent from the sport, selecting to attend to attend a match after beginning the function in January.
Whereas the appointment was a shock in Germany and in England, the concentrate on Leipzig has been notably acute.
In a wierd quirk of the fixture listing, Leipzig’s 5 fixtures after the announcement contains video games in opposition to every of Klopp’s former golf equipment: Mainz, Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund.
‘Klopp in Mallorca’
Klopp was once more a subject of dialog after Leipzig’s 2-0 win at Mainz on Saturday, by followers and media alike.
Some followers held banners protesting the appointment, whereas reporters requested if Leipzig coach Marco Rose had requested Klopp for tips about find out how to beat the Reds on Wednesday.
Rose performed beneath Klopp for a number of years at Mainz and the 2 keep a superb relationship.
He mentioned he would “not be phoning up” his former coach for tips about find out how to beat Liverpool.
“Kloppo is in (Spanish island) Mallorca, taking care of his canine, his spouse and his youngsters.
“I’ll do all the things (to beat Liverpool) however I will not name Klopp.
“He wants his peace and quiet and must relaxation a bit.
“And I am going to grant him that.”
Born and raised in Leipzig, Rose took the formidable membership to the 2023 German Cup title in his first season.
The 48-year-old adopted it up with a run to the Champions League final 16, the place Leipzig had been narrowly eradicated by eventual champions Actual Madrid.
This season, Leipzig have managed to carry onto most of their younger expertise, giving rise to hopes of a shot on the league title and a future in Europe.
Though Leipzig are second to Bayern Munich on aim distinction within the Bundesliga, the Champions League is one other story, albeit with a troublesome draw.
Leipzig conceded late objectives to lose away at Atletico Madrid and at house in opposition to Juventus.
The Saxon facet have but to say some extent in Europe this season, making Wednesday’s conflict with the Premier League leaders much more essential.
‘Extraordinarily secure’
Like Liverpool, Leipzig’s sturdy league type this marketing campaign has been constructed on a miserly defence.
Leipzig have stored clear sheets in six of seven league video games. The 2 objectives they did concede got here in opposition to Bayer Leverkusen in a recreation Leipzig gained 3-2, the defending champions’ first defeat on German soil in 15 months.
Beginning the marketing campaign beneath Klopp alternative Arne Slot, Liverpool have conceded simply three objectives in eight league video games this season, by far the perfect mark within the Premier League.
Peter Gulasci, Leipzig’s goalkeeper, on Saturday recognised the similarities.
“Liverpool are extraordinarily secure and do not enable a lot on the again — identical to us.
“That is why it will not be straightforward.
“Their model of play has modified a bit (beneath Slot), they play a bit extra with the ball and are very structured.
“We have proven within the first two video games we’re on par with our opponents, however now we’ve got to lastly reward ourselves for our onerous work.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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