“Our identity is intensity. It comes back in every drill”
The story behind how Pep Lijnders helped train Liverpool for the 2018/19 Champions League final.
Thread.
The story behind how Pep Lijnders helped train Liverpool for the 2018/19 Champions League final.
Thread.
Well before Liverpool made it to the UCL final, Pep Lijnders was already making arrangements for a potential encounter in Madrid. The semi-final hadn’t taken place yet, but Klopp’s assistant was already considering the ideal preparations.
Pep contemplated the idea of bringing in a team that could replicate the playing style of Ajax or Tottenham to give Liverpool an understanding of what to anticipate if they advanced past Barcelona.
The location was chosen, with Marbella selected due to its climate similarity to Madrid, making it relatively easy to secretly transport a team there.
Lijnders explained, “I really wanted to set up a match because otherwise, we would have gone three weeks without any competitive action. I wanted us to face a team with a similar style to the potential opponents we might encounter in Madrid…
The concept was to discreetly invite a team to train for three to four days, instructing them to play against us in the friendly the way we desired.”
Lijnders’ efforts yielded significant results as Liverpool, despite being 3-0 down, reached the final.
Lijnders states, “Benfica B came over, and we maintained complete secrecy throughout. We delivered a presentation to their manager, outlining the way they needed to play…
Lijnders states, “Benfica B came over, and we maintained complete secrecy throughout. We delivered a presentation to their manager, outlining the way they needed to play…
It had to resemble Tottenham in terms of set pieces, playing style, and defensive organization. We conducted that match away from prying eyes. We even erected taller screens to ensure no one could observe anything…
This match occurred precisely one week before the final, and we prepared meticulously, as if it were the day of the final.”
Liverpool, having defeated Benfica B with a 3-0 scoreline, went on to win the Champions League by defeating Spurs 2-0.
When analyzing the lead-up to the early goals in both of these matches, a distinct pattern emerges, with Liverpool gaining possession at the halfway line and sending a long ball to Sadio Mané.
Lijnders explains, “In both instances, you could clearly see our positioning to dominate the second-ball game and immediately target Sadio in the open space behind the defensive line.”
Check out Pep Lijnders’ Masterclass/Interview in which he explains Liverpool’s football philosophy, counter-pressing and coaching behavioural aspects of football!
[click on the picture to browse the website]
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[click on the picture to browse the website]
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To know more about gegenpressing, check out Julian Nagelsmann and Ralf Rangnick’s tactical masterclass on Bayern Munich’s football philosophy!
gauravmukherjee.stck.me
gauravmukherjee.stck.me
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