New Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has demanded “full throttle” from his players after he was unveiled by the Premier League club on Friday.
Klopp has signed a three-year contract with Liverpool and the German is charged with the task of reversing an underwhelming run of form which has yielded just three wins from the opening eight games of the new Premier League season.
The former Borussia Dortmund coach said he was ready to embrace the “wonderful opportunity” of returning to management in the English top flight and excited by the challenge of winning over the club’s “extraordinary supporters”.
“Firstly, I would like to offer thanks to the ownership of Liverpool Football Club for showing faith in me and my staff and presenting us with this wonderful opportunity. They have presented to me a very clear vision and I share their ambitions and model of work,” he said on the club’sofficial website.
“I am very excited by the challenge we face and eager to start the job and begin implementing our ideas and ways of working with this team. This is a talented group of players and there is still much to compete for this season.”
Klopp saw his stock rise in a trophy-laden spell in Bundesliga when guiding Borussia Dortmund to back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012, as well as winning the DFB-Pokal in 2012. He also steered BVB to the Champions League final in 2013, where they lost to domestic rivals Bayern Munich.
The Stuttgart-born coach added: “Winning is important but so is how you win and how you play the game. I believe in a playing philosophy that is very emotional, very fast and very strong. My teams must play at full throttle and take it to the limit every single game.
“It is important to have a playing philosophy that reflects your own mentality, reflects the club and gives you a clear direction to follow. Tactical of course, but tactical with a big heart.
“Liverpool has extraordinary supporters and Anfield is a world renowned home, with an incredible atmosphere. I want to build a great relationship with these supporters and give them memories to cherish. I hope we can feed off each other’s energy and that we take this journey together.”