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| Jurgen Klopp wants to see immediate changes to Liverpool's mentality and willingness to fight |
JURGEN KLOPP wants to see an immediate change in Liverpool's mentality and a willingness to fight "to the last second" when his tenure begins at Tottenham today.
The new Liverpool manager admitted his first task is to rebuild his side's confidence following an underwhelming start to the season which prompted the sacking of Brendan Rodgers and Klopp's appointment as his successor.
"We try to do this but I do not want to say too much. We will see what happens. If they do their things and we do our things then we will find what's better in this game."
Klopp moved to temper the expectancy which has been swirling around his arrival in the Premier League by insisting he will need time before his methods take hold, adding his "ideas were not better" than those of Rodgers, simply "different".
Yet he is keen to recognise some of the initial work he has overseen in training this week being immediately transferred onto the pitch.
"I am able to wait for each step," said Klopp. "That is very important. You know how development works but you are always [putting the manager] a little bit under pressure: now, but now, but now, but now.
"Football is not like this. We all have to feel confident to make the next step.
"I have to give the boys things that they are able to do. Of course, I want to see a change in mentality; from the first second until the last second. Not because it was bad before but because that is the most easy thing to change.
"We have to go to London, go out of the stadium, go out of the dressing room and show what we can do.
"That's what we are waiting for the whole week. That's what we dream of. All the tactical things, that's very important because we do not have to work so much on the physical side.
"My ideas are not better than Brendan's. They are different, of course and so we need time. That's a big challenge: to find a way ]to make] the first step and that you can see that it is better. They have to get better in the games."
Klopp's philosophy is based on aggressive pressing of the ball and fast, "full-throttle" football, and is ready to go toe-to-toe with manager of the month Mauricio Pochettino.
"Tottenham is not the most easy game to play," said Klopp. "It's absolutely clear they are a football playing team. They want to pass. This is good for a team that wants to press.
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| Klopp replaced Brendan Rodgers as manager of Liverpool |
After Spurs the testing baptism in the Premier League will continue with games against Southampton, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Manchester City and Swansea, but Klopp insists he has not risked his reputation by coming to Anfield.
The former Borussia Dortmund coach is regarded as one of Europe's best managers, but rather than waiting for opportunities elsewhere he has chosen to take on the task of reviving a club which has won one trophy since 2006.
"I am many things, but not a gambler. No, absolutely not," added Klopp. "I had no contact to any other club. When I heard about the interest from Liverpool I didn't think, 'Okay, maybe I should wait'.
"No, I never had a plan. I heard it, I felt what I felt. And then I got some information, more and more. I am interested in English football so I knew many things already.
"And then we decided together that we wanted to do this. We knew it was a big challenge. But life is a challenge so it's not the biggest problem."
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