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Georginio Wijnaldum reveals moment Jurgen Klopp embarrassed him in front of Liverpool team
GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM has revealed how he was left speechless after Jurgen Klopp berated his performance last season in front of his Liverpool team-mates.
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Klopp has proved to be a huge hit among many football fans for his animated personality on the touchline, in particular with Liverpool supporters.
That connection with the Reds fans is clearly extended to the players, who constantly receive a trademark bear hug from the German head coach.
There seems to be a feel-good factor around Anfield that has been building ever since Klopp arrived at Liverpool in 2015, with players keen to work with him.
But his beaming smile doesn’t mean Klopp is any less demanding of his players, in fact Wijnaldum insists it’s quite the opposite.
And while the Netherland international arguably has a closer relationship with Klopp than most, he still isn’t spared a tongue-lashing.
“I had played a really bad game [in the 2-0 defeat to Red Star Belgrade],” he said to Raphael Honigstein in his book ’Klopp: Bring the Noise’.
“A lot of times he says that when I start a game badly, it never becomes good during the game any more.
“And he said, in front of everyone, ‘I could see it in your eyes and in your body language — this was going to be a game like that.’
“And I was like, ‘Whoa, I don’t need that in this moment.’
“But in the end, if you analyse it, he was right.
“He didn’t say it to break me, but to help me.
“Sometimes it is difficult for me, how he reacts or shouts, but if you ask me if I would like him to change, I would say: absolutely not.”
And Wijnaldum goes on to say that while Klopp’s high expectations only benefit the players, it can sometimes be too much to take at first.
“Sometimes it can be a lot for a player,” he added.
“You are busy with the game and sometimes it is not going well.
“Then you see him at the side, yelling at you.
“You are not allowed to bend over to take a rest, or show that you are tired.
“He wants you to stand up and show [the opposition] that you are not tired.
“It’s very demanding, but he is always trying to help you as a player to go forward.”