Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has claimed that he has had to adjust his football philosophy due to the weather in England. The German admitted that his side have not been able to stick to his tactics at times due to the windy English weather.
The former Borussia Dormund manager explained that his mixed start to life with the club after taking charge in October is due to the conditions in England.
‘Wind in England can be unusual for players from abroad’
Jurgen Klopp has put down his opinion on weather conditions that affect and separate the style of play in Germany compared to England. He also admitted that these conditions are not easy to adapt to for anyone who comes from abroad and believes that itself is a huge challenge for players.
“The English game is not faster than the German game. Perhaps there are a few more sprints. But there is a different style of football here, partially due to the weather,” Klopp told Sport Bild.
“The wind can be quite extreme in England. We are not familiar with that in Germany and you have to keep things simple. Stoke City's first goal against Manchester United was a perfect example of the extreme winds. Players who are not from the UK have to get used to the winds.”
‘The intensity of duels are high in England’
Klopp has noticed the difference in refereeing in England and Germany and believes that the physicality of the Premier League is demanding.
“I have to adapt my style of football 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,” the 48-year-old commented.
“English referees are not like their German colleagues. Of course, you will not get away with brutal fouls, but the duels are more intense here. Duels that would have resulted in a foul in Germany are often okay here,” he added.
Liverpool travel to struggling Sunderland in their next game and will be looking to take three full points that can help them push forward for a top-four finish and Champions League football next season. They currently lie 10th in the table, eight points behind fourth placed Tottenham, who have played a game more, and can move up to 7th with a win over Sunderland.
