Former Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana has provided fresh insight into how Jurgen Klopp transformed the club upon his arrival - by immediately ensuring the entire squad was fully on board with his methods and commanding their respect.
Lallana, who is now plying his trade at Brighton, is one of more than 30 interviewees in a new five-part documentary about Klopp that is released this morning; appropriately called 'JURGEN'.
And when asked about the success of Klopp, who arrived in October 2015 with the club losing touch with their Premier League rivals, the 34-year-old Lallana said that on the training ground the transformation was nearly instant. "You could see immediately he knew the formula for success," Lallana says in the documentary. "When he said what to do, you did it."
The series, made by The Anfield Wrap in association with ERDINGER, also features contributions from Jamie Carragher and club legend Kenny Dalglish.
The documentary’s makers visited Klopp’s former clubs, including Mainz and Borussia Dortmund and spoke to one of his coaches as a lower league player, Ramon Berndroth, to explore his rise as one of the game’s brightest managers.
Klopp had arrived at Liverpool following a brief break after leaving Dortmund, whom he guided to regular success up against German giants Bayern Munich. When he was unveiled at Anfield, he stressed that "we have to change from doubters to believers. Now."
And for Lallana, who remained at the club until 2020, those words were translated into action.
Lallana adds: “He has the X factor doesn’t he? It’s as simple as that. The amazing ability he has to motivate players. If he’s left you out for 10, 11, 12 games you’re a bit down but somehow with him, you’ve still got so much respect for him even though you aren’t happy.
“I don’t know how he does it but he just has the ability to get you motivated because of who he is, so you’re fighting for the team and for him and that’s the art. It just shows how good he is at being a manager.”
Klopp has won six major trophies at Liverpool, including a first Premier League title and a Champions League. In May he signed a contract extension to extend his stay at the club until the summer of 2026.
The first episode can be streamed here.
