Jurgen Klopp took a clutch of Liverpool players to a training camp in Tenerife this international break, and has hailed its effect on his side’s morale.
Jürgen Klopp speaks to LFCTV and tells us why he opted for warm weather training this week… https://t.co/5T0JhSXS3y
— LFC TV (@LFCTV) 27 March 2016
Alberto Moreno, Roberto Firmino, Lucas Leiva and Jon Flanagan were among those to fly out to the Canary Islands last week, as Klopp looked to strengthen the bond within his group while many of his first-team stars embarked on international duty.
While Jordan Henderson, Nathaniel Clyne and Adam Lallana all enjoyed success in England’s 3-2 win away to Germany on Saturday night, Klopp believes this trip has been just as positive.
Speaking to LFCTV from Tenerife, Klopp described the atmosphere in the Reds’ camp as “close to perfect.”
“The main reason why we’re here is we can train in a different circumstance,” he said.
“It’s a long year, a long season for all the players, and so they need the change a little bit.
“The biggest opportunity we could get from our owners and from Ian Ayre and Mike Gordon is they said we could take our families here.
“It’s a great atmosphere: we work hard, and then we have time for family in a really nice place.
“Until now it’s close to perfect.”
This blend of team bonding and mid-season training is a useful exercise by Klopp, whose experience of managing Mainz and Borussia Dortmund in Germany saw him reap the benefits of a winter break.
Klopp took his Dortmund squad to Spain in January last year, reaping the benefits during a turbulent 2014/15 campaign.
“In one week we’ve trained together more often than in seven weeks in summer preparation,” he explained at the time.
“We can finally do what we couldn’t do last summer—work on our automatisms with a big group of players.
“We are a team that always excels in team play, not in individualistic hero football.”
Dortmund lost just four league games on their return from La Manga, overturning a miserable start to the season to finish seventh in the Bundesliga, securing Europa League qualification.
While Klopp doesn’t have the luxury of a full first-team squad at his disposal in Tenerife, with his selection largely comprised of academy players including promising U18s duo Adam Phillips and Ovie Ejaria, this mid-season trip will no doubt prove positive.
As Firmino and Lucas continue their recovery from injury in a productive environment, and Klopp boosts morale both on and off the field, this should see Liverpool return to action in good spirits in April.
Liverpool squad in Tenerife: Shamal George, Caoimhin Kelleher, Steven Caulker, Joe Maguire, Kolo Toure, Connor Randall, Jon Flanagan, Jose Enrique, Alberto Moreno, Cameron Brannagan, Alex O’Hanlon, Adam Phillips, Pedro Chirivella, Lucas Leiva (injured), Roberto Firmino (injured), Ryan Kent, Ovie Ejaria
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