Liverpool midfielder Pedro Chirivella has praised manager Jürgen Klopp, insisting the German boss is the same in the dressing room as he is on television.
Klopp is known for being something of an extrovert, not scared to show his emotions or share his opinion when the situation calls for it.
He is often an animated figure on the sidelines in games, living through games much like the fans in the stands.
While that is something Liverpool fans adore, it has seen the German manager criticised by supporters of other clubs, who claim it is all part of a show.
Chirivella insists that isn’t the case, joining the chorus of others to work under Klopp and insists what you see is what you get.
“As you see him on TV is how he is in the locker room,” he told Marca.
“He’s very natural, very normal. He has a very special relationship with his players, and I think you can see that on the pitch and how we behave with him.
“He has a totally equal relationship with the most important players and with those who play less. That is why every time secondary players are given an opportunity, we try to give everything.”
That was borne out this week as a much-changed Liverpool side overcome Arsenal on penalties in the Carabao Cup after a 5-5 thriller at Anfield.
Klopp elected to name a much-changed side for the game, handing opportunities to several youngsters as well as some of Liverpool’s squad players.
His faith in those players was rewarded by their progression from a game that Chirivella says Liverpool needed to show more control in.
“It was a very crazy game,” he admits.
“I think that the last fifteen minutes we needed a little more control because Arsenal could hurt us with spaces and the truth is that everything went perfect.
“From the first-minute, people were excited about the eleven that the boss picked, with many very young people. We turned up at all times, and the victory was the icing on the cake.”
Progression in the Carabao Cup continued Liverpool’s excellent start to the season, with the Reds currently unbeaten and fighting on multiple fronts.
As well as sitting top of the Premier League, they have also progressed in this competition, sit second in their Champions League group and have the Club World Championship and FA Cup to come.
This season could be a bumper one in terms of trophies, with them already winning the European Supercup, and Chirivella says the current squad is ready to fight for as many as possible.
“Totally. The template is ready for that,” he added when asked about the chance of winning a sextuplet.
“Yesterday (against Arsenal) you could see it; Jürgen gave rest to the starting team, which always plays in Premier League, Arsenal came to Anfield, and we were able to beat them.
“We have the Club World Cup in December, the next round of the League Cup, the FA Cup that will now start shortly.
“The squad is ready to go as far as possible and raise as many titles.”
