Jason McAteer joined Off The Ball and discussed what Jurgen Klopp has got right with Liverpool that Brendan Rodgers got so crucially wrong.
Where Brendan Rodgers very nearly ended Liverpool's wait for a Premier League six years earlier than Jurgen Klopp eventually managed, his spell in charge of the club never approached such heights after the 2013-14 season.
In his absence, Rodgers' replacement Klopp has gone on to achieve all and more than ever appeared viable during the Northern Irishman's time at Liverpool.
"I’m not taking anything away from Brendan," clarified Jason McAteer at OTB Sport's UEFA Champions League Final preview night in association with Pepsi Max and Doritos, "because 2nd place in the Premier League is fantastic.
"I always felt with him being so young that there was an ego there, [however]. Liverpool were going to give him the opportunity to progress. They were thinking we’ll let Brendan take a step backwards to bring us three step forwards but it just didn’t quite work out for him."
The problem, in McAteer's mind, was in Rodgers' inability to do what Klopp has done so well.
"Rodgers built Liverpool’s foundations on sand," he suggested. "I never felt there was a longevity in what Brendan was trying to do."
"When Jurgen came in," he recalled of the German's arrival, "I just felt this instant lift. I felt the foundations that were being put down were concrete."
After a bit of a shaky start with Liverpool, Klopp has transformed the club with time into one of Europe's elite sides again. Champions League winners last seasons and Premier League champions this time out, things only appear to be travelling in an upward trend.
"He’s brought a belief and a desire into a group of players," insisted McAteer.
"Klopp never talked Liverpool up too much. Yeah he said he was going to win the league within four seasons but every manager does that. He just quietly went about his business.
"He ventured into the transfer market very astutely, he spent the money wisely. Apart from maybe [Loris] Karius, he has improved every player that he has brought in."
McAteer also feels that Klopp's ability to manage the personalities and egos within the squad has been crucial to Liverpool's success.
"The dressing room is a massively important part of any successful team," he stated. "If you don’t have that right blend in the dressing room then you won’t have success.
"As much as Jurgen is a fantastic manager, he’s also built a fantastic squad because he knows that he can’t be around the dressing room 100% of the time.
"He knows sometimes the players will get sick of his voice, get sick of him hugging them, will get sick of him pointing fingers or saying things. A manager is not loved by every player.
"You need players who reiterate what the manager wants and what he desires."
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