The manager of Real Madrid, Zinedine Zidane spent quality time evaluating how great the manager of Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp is and how he has learned a lot from him.
He revealed that he first had contact with the German tactician when he went for a coaching course, noting that Klopp is a great coach who has a specific way of training his players.
Though the two coaches have been coaching at the highest level for over 7 years, they have faced each other ones in their managerial career. Their first and last meeting was in the final of the UEFA Champions League in 2018. Unfortunately for Klopp, Zinedine Zidane and his boys came out victorious.
At the time Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 3-1 in the final of the Champions League in 2018, Jurgen Klopp’s team was regarded as one of the most formidable teams in the world while Real Madrid still had Cristiano Ronaldo playing at his peak.
But as it stands, the two teams are not as compact as they were when they met in 2018 due to injuries and of course transfers. For instance, Liverpool are not with the club’s best defender Virgil van Dijk due to a knee injury. While Real Madrid don’t longer have Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale due to transfers. The club’s veteran defender Sergio Ramos is also out due to an injury.
Yet, Zinedine Zidane believes that the managerial prowess of Jurgen Klopp could be a factor against his team in today’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg encounter in Madrid. The encounter will kick off at 20:00.
Zidane said: “When I took my training course as a coach, I saw many coaches and some of the best. I also saw Jurgen Klopp, but then a coach has its own system. I believe he has a very specific way of training.
“He’s a great coach. He has the experience and the work he has done. Everyone has their own way.
“I looked at all the technicians and saw a lot of things about him when he was doing the course. I’m not going to copy him but you learn and I learned from him.”
Zinedine Zidane praises Liverpool’s attacking trio
Meanwhile, Zinedine Zidane took out time to note that one of the strongest factors of Liverpool’s squad is the availability of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mane in the club’s attack.
These three strikers were present in the final of the UEFA Champions League campaign in 2018 but Real Madrid defeated Liverpool after Sergio Ramos’ tackle gave Mohamed Salah a shoulder injury.
“It’s a complete team,” said Zidane, when asked where Liverpool’s biggest strength lies ahead of today’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie.
“It is a very strong and very solid set and when it comes to playing as a team it is very good, there is not a single point in particular, although yes, the three strikers are very good.”
After today’s encounter, Real Madrid will travel to England to play against Liverpool in the second leg of the tie at Anfield Stadium on April 14, 2021. The club that comes out top will scale through to the semi-final stage of the competition.
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