Ask the average footballer about his least popular time of the year, and the answer will almost certainly be unanimous.
Pre-Season.
The hours on the training ground, the time to discuss tactics, the lack of competitive action and, more and more, the jet-set around the world to meet trade obligations while rarely venturing into any distant destination that the club dictates, everything combines to make it a time to endure rather than enjoy. August arrives, most players itch furiously for the real thing to start, happy to see the back of the boxing in the shade.
No Jurgen Klopp, however.
"Apart from the games during the season it's the most important thing and she has a great influence on the games," says the Liverpool boss. "You create a foundation for the entire year."
"This game is a game of players and the game of the players means that they must know what the other thinks.
" You learn all this in the pre-season. Of course, you learn in the season – you fine-tune – but the more the base you can create is good, the better will be the season, 100%.
"I love sessions, there should be a 100% difference between the first day of pre-season and the last day, we really want to see big, big progress."
Naby Keita will have a greater appreciation of what is expected of him in Liverpool this
C is Klopp who spoke before last season, but his feelings remain the same.
That's why this week's training camp in Evian is likely to prove both The start of the pre-season season of the local Chester City Championships, Tranmere Rovers, Bury and Blackburn Rovers allowed the players to get back into action while giving Naby Keita and Fabinho
The trip to the United States checked commercial boxes, saw Liverpool connect with their feverish American fanbase and allowed them to spread the word. Gospel of Anfield.
