Philippe Coutinho has described working under Jurgen Klopp as an “honour,” and revealed he consulted Roberto Firmino ahead of his move to Bayern Munich.
Coutinho made his second move in 18 months this summer, as he left Barcelona to join Bayern on loan, having endured a difficult time in Catalonia after his £142 million arrival from Liverpool.
Though the Brazilian has few admirers among Reds supporters following his efforts to leave the club, he has maintained a strong relationship with Klopp.
The manager contacted Coutinho after he sealed his switch to Bayern, despite the Munich side being Klopp’s main rivals during a long spell in charge of Borussia Dortmund.
And speaking to SPORT BILD this week, the 27-year-old has praised Klopp, explaining how “he changed Liverpool.”
“He is just a great coach, one of the best in the world. A real leader. His mentality is unique,” he said.
“I learned so much from him, especially on a mental level.
“He changed Liverpool. The club breathed new life, [he] made them really strong again. It was an honour to work with him.”
Coutinho added that Klopp told him “Bayern is a big club and the Bundesliga a great league,” and “that he is very happy to see me there.”
Firmino was in a great position to advise Coutinho as he weighed up the prospect of joining the Bundesliga champions, with Liverpool’s No. 9 spending four years in the German top flight with Hoffenheim.
The pair remain close friends, and Coutinho revealed how he spoke to Firmino about the league and the club he was poised to join.
“I talked with [him] about the intensity of the Bundesliga and the tight matches there,” he continued.
“He told me a lot about the different Bundesliga teams.
“I played in Liverpool for a few years, and I already noticed in the first games with Bayern, that the game in Germany is very intense as it is in England.
“[It is] much more than in Spain or Brazil. That is good for me.”
Though Coutinho certainly isn’t a popular figure on Merseyside now, he remains a top-level talent whose ability was wasted at the Nou Camp.
The opportunity to revive his career in Munich is a positive one, and no doubt both Klopp and Firmino will be pleased if he succeeds at Bayern, regardless of their rival ties.
Coutinho has made two appearances for Bayern so far, starting in the No. 10 role in their 6-1 victory over another of Klopp’s former sides, Mainz, last time out.
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