It didn't take Jurgen Klopp very long to experience his first unforgettable European night at Anfield, as just months after taking over from Brendan Rodgers he guided Liverpool into the semi-final of the Europa League at the expense of his old club Borussia Dortmund.
On that night we heard from the likes of Divock Origi about how Klopp had inspired the sensational comeback with his words and actions at half time, and Klopp cut a figure of absolute delight as he basked in the incredible atmosphere that surrounded him, but it turns out that once the initial excitement had died down, he began to feel a bit different.
Upon waking the next day Klopp found himself feeling bad, because he knew exactly how the players would have reacted to such a devastating loss, and the mood that would be with the entire squad in the hotel. He explained his feelings in a recent chat with LiverpoolEcho.co.uk:
When we scored again, it was more of a shock than a real joy. At the end, when I saw all the happy faces after the game, I knew it was a special night. You cannot have 500 of those. If you are a really lucky guy, you maybe get ten in your life.
The morning after the game was completely different because usually after a match like that, you wake up and you think: ‘Oh great, what a wonderful thing.’ This time I was not in the best shape, to be honest, and I had no real idea why, and then I realised: ‘Ah yes, they lost.’
I had seven wonderful years at Dortmund and I knew how they felt. I knew what they would have done in the hotel and how it would have been when they woke up and all met for breakfast. I knew what the mood would have been like.
But even more interesting were Klopp's views on his own brand of football.
When you look at someone like Louis Van Gaal, who has driven Manchester United fans to the point of despair with his boring tactics and overly cautious use of the ball when in possession, it is refreshing to hear the German explain why he sets his team up the way he does.
The term "heavy metal football" can no longer be used, but Klopp wants his teams to play football that puts bums in seats every week:
I want my team to win – that is it. I want our game to be easy to enjoy, because I think the only real reason for football is to entertain the crowd. If they come twice and say it is boring, then they will think about whether they want to come again. We are a ball possession team, but nobody realises it because my image is pressing and counter-pressing.
When I was younger, I called it things like ‘heavy metal football’. I have no idea any more why I said that. But I do like the spectacular. When I am in a room with people I try to make sure the atmosphere is not worse when I am there. When I am involved in a game, I try to help ensure it is more enjoyable than when I am not involved.
While Old Trafford has not noticed a stark drop in attendances despite some of the most utterly apathetic performances ever seen in the historic stadium, thus making Klopp's "fool me twice" argument a little weaker, it is very clear that playing the game in such a way cannot be allowed to continue.
Where Van Gaal demands that his players buy into his philosophy in order to make them a harder team to beat (which the jury is still well and truly out on, obviously), Klopp asks his players to do so in order to win in style, so that even if the result doesn't go the team's way then there is a silver lining in the manner of the defeat.
