Jurgen Klopp needed just four months to draw an important conclusion about the conventional wisdom of European soccer: It’s less true than most tend to believe.
In an interview published Wednesday in German newspaper Bild, Klopp balked at the long-held notion that soccer is faster in England than it is in Germany. Klopp said weather conditions in England force teams to play differently than they do in Germany, but players in Britain don’t necessarily run or move the ball faster than those in Germany, as many think.
“The English game is not faster than the German game,” Klopp told Bild, according to Sky Sports. “Perhaps there are a few more sprints. But there is a different style of football here, partially due to the weather.
“The wind can be quite extreme in England. We are not familiar with that in Germany, and you have to keep things simple.
Klopp might have been aware of perceived differences between German and English soccer when Liverpool hired him as manager in early October, but his experiences over his first four months in charge at Anfield have forced him to streamline his attacking philosophy — regardless of whether he wanted or intended to do so.
“… Players who are not from the UK have to get used to the winds,” Klopp continued. “I have to adapt my style as a result as well.
“Often, you are forced to keep things simple. And there are a lot more duels for the second ball here, and more duels in general. That makes the game even more intense.”
Klopp previously has characterized his ideal playing style as “emotional.” He’ll have to walk down many roads in search of a more perfect playing style at Liverpool, and the end to his quest probably will be blowin’ in the English wind.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@SkyFootball
