Jurgen Klopp and the Psychology of the Touchline Manager
Reacting to his Liverpool side's enthralling 4-3 win away to Arsenal at a sun-drenched Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon, Jurgen Klopp admitted that he had made a "big mistake" on the touchline after his side netted three goals in 14 second-half minutes.
The German joined celebrations for Sadio Mane's excellent solo strike, Liverpool's fourth of the afternoon, lofting the £30 million summer signing in the air as he was applauded by his new team-mates—it's something he told reporters at full-time that he regretted:
"We came out [for the second half], scored wonderful goals, and then I made a big mistake, because I was involved in celebrations.
That will happen, hopefully, one or two times in my life, but not so early in the game, because it was the wrong sign for all of us. It felt for everybody in that moment "that's it", and then you look at your watch and then "oh!", there's still half an hour to go—that's not good.
So the crowd was a little bit angry, obviously, Arsenal fought back, showed character, scored the goals, we defended—again—not so good, and after the third goal we were back in the race.
"
As Klopp attested, Liverpool ultimately held on despite goals from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Calum Chambers adding to Theo Walcott's opener to set up a tense finale at 4-3, but his admission is a salient one.
While supporters and pundits alike apportioned blame to Alberto Moreno for the Reds' sloppy defensive effort at the Emirates, Klopp placed it at his own feet, opening an important debate as to the responsibility of the new breed of touchline managers.
"During the game I'm quite passionate, involved, maybe it sometimes looks like I'm a supporter," Klopp told ITV during Liverpool's UEFA Europa League campaign in 2015/16, "but I'm not—I try to give advice to people throughout those 90 minutes."
This serves as a crystallisation of Klopp's approach on the touchline, and why the former Borussia Dortmund manager has connected so closely with both supporters and players alike in his time with the Reds.
The vision of Klopp bounding up the touchline to celebrate an important goal, or pumping his fist alongside long-serving assistant Zeljko Buvac in the dugout, is one that Merseyside has grown accustomed to—and one that has stemmed from his time with Mainz 05 and Dortmund.
In the buildup to Sunday's clash, Liverpool's official Twitter account even appropriated one of Klopp's trademark celebrations from his side's 4-0 pre-season victory over Barcelona in anticipation:
The Klopp factor has become something like Liverpool propaganda, the manager's boundless passion resonating with the ethos of the club, its history and the fanatic following of its supporters.
This has seemingly spread to his squad, too, in Jordan Henderson's snapping and snarling in his role as captain, Philippe Coutinho gesturing to supporters during April's remarkable 4-3 win at home to Dortmund in the Europa League and Adam Lallana mirroring his manager's actions from the bench at the Emirates.
Late on during Liverpool's pre-season defeat to AS Roma, the image of Lucas Leiva, sporting similar thick-rimmed glasses to his manager, throwing a water bottle onto the pitch in frustration, served to highlight the infectious nature of Klopp's passion.
Liverpool have found the perfect manager in this regard in Klopp, and largely, this approach to touchline management can be seen as a positive.
One of the key examples of Klopp's influential support as Liverpool manager came during January's remarkable 5-4 victory over Norwich City, when Lallana's late strike sealed an unlikely victory following Sebastien Bassong's equaliser early into stoppage time.
Lallana surged towards the dugout and embraced Klopp, who in turn was flocked by the midfielder's team-mates in celebration of an emphatic result.
In a more sobering display of unity, Klopp led his squad over to the travelling Kop following Divock Origi's last-minute leveller in December's 2-2 draw away to West Bromwich Albion, saluting the Reds' support—the German was criticised for his response to the stalemate, but it served to highlight his appreciation.
Throughout Liverpool's run to the Europa League final last season, Klopp could be seen roaring his side on from the touchline, and Nathaniel Clyne—at right-back, one of the more direct recipients of his blend of fury and rhapsody—described the benefits of such a backing in an interview with the Telegraph's Julian Bennetts in December:
"We were all happy [when Klopp was appointed] and everyone is playing with a smile on their face. We are enjoying the game now. If you see him on the sideline he is 100 miles per hour, cheering for every goal. If a bad decision is made he’s shouting. He’s a fan on the sideline. We see him, up and down. It motivates everyone really.
He is very enthusiastic and very loud. You see how he hugs all the players. That shows support to us. It makes us warm to him.
"
The 49-year-old is not alone in this approach, of course, and Liverpool supporters will be frustratingly familiar with the image of Jose Mourinho rampaging down the sideline during Chelsea's 2-0 victory at Anfield towards the end of the 2014/15 campaign.
One of last season's title-spurring managers, Tottenham Hotspur's Mauricio Pochettino, is a similarly vocal presence in the technical area, while a new face likely to lead the Blues to contention in 2016/17, Antonio Conte, could be seen roaring his side on during their 2-1 victory over West Ham United on Monday night.
Even Paolo Di Canio, present at the Emirates on Sunday, showcased the benefits of such vociferous support in Sunderland's derby victory over Newcastle United in 2013, with the Italian's knee-slide celebration injecting a belief into his new side that saw them stave off relegation from the Premier League.
As Klopp conceded following Sunday's win over Arsenal, however, this approach is not always beneficial, and like the German stifling his side's momentum at the Emirates, a number of managers have had a negative effect from the touchline.
Mourinho, for example, caught up in an unseemly scuffle during Real Madrid's 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in 2011, provoked widespread criticism in gouging the eye of the late Tito Vilanova—then assistant to Pep Guardiola—before releasing a statement via his spokesman, who addressed Spanish publication El Mundo (h/t the Telegraph).
"Jose will not ask for forgiveness. He firmly believes that he was defending the interests of Real Madrid," Eladio Parames relayed. "Mourinho doesn't care what the press says, he only cares about what Madrid's fans think."
But as the Guardian's Paul Hayward proffered shortly after, "[it] was proof of an emotional inability to accept a subservient role for another year"—or in other words, his position was becoming untenable, something that rang true during his time with Chelsea again last season.
Similarly, former Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson's grappling with Crystal Palace midfielder James McArthur in the technical area towards the beginning of 2014, pinning the Scotland international to the ground by the throat, saw a loss of control that, naturally, failed to inspire his side on the pitch.
Pearson was dismissed as Foxes manager just over four months later, despite guiding them to safety in their first season back in the Premier League.
While Klopp is renowned for berating officials when decisions don't go his side's way—and he was handed a one-match suspension for such an act during Dortmund's 2-1 loss to Napoli in the UEFA Champions League in 2013—his approach is far from teetering into these realms, however.
More accurately, Klopp's touchline demeanour serves as an antithesis to the more reserved, reclined approach some managers take—notably Louis van Gaal during his time at Manchester United.
Speaking to reporters in January, Van Gaal detailed his transformation from Ajax's buoyant dugout dynamo to the static, measured manager seen during his time at Old Trafford, comparing himself to Klopp in the process:
"Every manager has his own identity, his own personality and also his own philosophy.
When I started my career, I was like Klopp.
Sometimes I still come to the touchline because I am changing the players or I am trying to communicate with them, but I don’t stand there for 90 minutes because I don’t agree with that.
I don’t think the referees in England are influenced by what the manager does.
"
What Van Gaal failed to acknowledge, however, in leaving his assistant Ryan Giggs to assume duties in the technical area, was the influence his actions would have on both his players and the club's supporters.
"The fans have derided Van Gaal for a perceived lack of passion," the Manchester Evening News' Stuart Mathieson wrote in May. "While they've been tearing their hair out on many occasions, the manager has looked impassive on the bench as he jots down another note in his leather document file sat on his lap."
Essentially, Van Gaal's reticence undermined his position as United manager, losing the backing of Manchester.
Mathieson referenced Klopp, and his sideline theatrics during Liverpool's Europa League semi-final clashes with Villarreal, as the type of manager United supporters were craving. Now, for better or worse, they have that in Mourinho.
From the reserved Van Gaal in the Old Trafford dugout, to the more measured Steve McClaren watching on from the stands as Derby County manager, to Klopp beating his chest with every kick of the ball on Merseyside, each manager takes a different approach as they look to mastermind success.
For Liverpool chairman Tom Werner, who discussed Klopp's impact with the club's official website on his appointment in October, the former Dortmund manager fits in perfectly with their ideals—and that of the club:
"He possesses all the qualities we are looking for in a manager—he is a strong, inspirational leader, who has a clear philosophy of high energy, attacking football. Critically, he is also a winner and someone who can connect with and enthuse our supporters.
It is our job now to support Jurgen every step of the way and help him achieve his full potential at this great football club.
He is enthusiastic about the squad of players and wants the team to fight to achieve success this season and beyond. His attitude is infectious and we believe it will lift the entire club.
"
Contrasting with images of Brendan Rodgers sunk into the stands throughout his last game as Liverpool manager away to Everton, Klopp is a breath of fresh air for the club.
As he admitted following Sunday's win over Arsenal, however, he still has lessons to learn.
But curbing the passion that fuels his managerial success should not be one of them—more so appreciating when to be more vocal, and when to quietly take in his side's on-field dominance.
Jack Lusby will be covering Liverpool throughout 2016/17 as one of Bleacher Report's lead correspondents. All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise stated.
Follow him on Twitter @jacklusby_ and Facebook here.
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