Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes Steven Gerrard is destined for his job ahead of their highly-anticipated meeting on Saturday.
Reds legend Gerrard takes his Aston Villa side to Anfield, returning to the famous ground for the first time since hanging up his boots.
While Gerrard’s focus is firmly set on securing three points for Villa, Klopp fully expects him to be in the opposite dugout one day.
Nevertheless, the German would not begrudge his close friend any wild celebrations in front of the Kop if Villa were to score tomorrow.
Klopp joked: “First thing I want to say… I will not answer any questions about Steven Gerrard today!
“I know [Gerrard] said ‘no sentiment’, he’s an experienced coach, but he has no idea how it will feel when he steps into the stadium/dugout. I had a similar thing first time I went back to Mainz.
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“Stevie is friends with 99.9 per cent of the people who work at Liverpool. And the 0.1 per cent just haven’t met him yet…
“I celebrated at Mainz [with BVB] like a crazy devil. Stevie is allowed to do that tomorrow. Let’s just hope he has no reason to do so.”
When asked if Gerrard is a future Liverpool manager in waiting, Klopp replied: “I think absolutely… It’s just when is the right moment to take the job… But yes, I think it will definitely happen.”
Meanwhile, Gerrard revealed it was Klopp who set him on a successful path as a manager.
The former Rangers boss got his first opportunity as a coach under the German in Liverpool’s youth system.
“I will forever be grateful to Jurgen and the best bit of advice I got from him was take your own team and do it your own way,” Gerrard said.
“What identity you want to use, go and make your own mistakes away from the cameras. Evolve, start your own journey – and I’ll give you whatever support you need.
“That was golden advice for me as a player coming out of a long career who has ambitions to go into coaching and management.
“When I had that conversation I didn’t expect to be competing against him in that short space of time, but I’m looking forward to that challenge.”
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By: Sean O’Brien
Title: Jurgen Klopp predicts Steven Gerrard will ‘definitely’ take Liverpool job, expects him to celebrate like ‘crazy devil’ at Anfield, while Aston Villa boss reveals career-changing advice
Sourced From: talksport.com/football/1000070/jurgen-klopp-liverpool-job-steven-gerrard-anfield-aston-villa/
Published Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2021 15:11:37 +0000
