The more things change in football, the more things stay the same.
Liverpool has a new manager and almost a brand new team since their last visit to Charlotte, North Carolina. Jordan Henderson and Simon Mignolet have not traveled this summer because of their achievements in the World Cup.
On Saturday, in the Carolina Panthers' Bank of America stadium media room, Jurgen Klopp found himself doing exactly what Brendan Rodgers had to four years ago.
Pre-game press conferences during pre-season tours can often be trials. Questions of little consequence are asked; the manager has to sit down, smile and offer nice words about the cities they visit.
From time to time however, a left-field. Often on transfers. For Klopp, it was Christian Pulisic, and the odds that he spread the yellow wall of Borussia Dortmund for the Kop.
"He has a contract in Dortmund, no, that's the first problem," said Klopp
. "I love Christian, I've known him since he was a child. is not very old yet, it's a fantastic player, and people deserve that we think of him in America.In Germany, it's the same.
Jurgen Klopp at his press conference in Charlotte
"If he wants to play England or anything someday, then he has the opportunity to do it but he is really developing it right now. It's really good to be in a club where they already know him.
"If – at some point – he will join us, I do not know."
"I like it, it's not that problem, but we still respect the contracts and there's no market I know right now."
A diplomatic response on a talent that he likes, and has already tried to bring to Merseyside. An offer of £ 11.5million was rejected in the summer of 2016, an offer that would be considered laughable now given its rise in Germany.
The Reds boss would never court a player publicly, but would treat the issue professionally. 19659014] Video Loading
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Rodgers did the same thing in 2014, in that same room, when asked about Mario Balotelli
Like Pulisic, he was expected to confront Liverpool at the end of a year. International Champions Cup the next day
. Rodgers produced a straight bat. "Balotelli is a great talent," he said. "If his concentration is good, his concentration is good and he leads the lifestyle of a high level player then he can play for any team in the world."
He will clarify his comments later on the tour, in Miami, after speculation grew around a movement. Liverpool was yet to replace Luis Suarez after Alexis Sanchez opted for Arsenal and Loic Remy missed his medical exam, and the Italian was considered an option.
"I can tell you categorically that Mario Balotelli will not be in Liverpool"
"At my last press conference, I was asked a question about Mario Balotelli and I spoke about his talent and his excellent player, and the next day it was written as if we were signing it, I just gave my perception of him as a player, he should not be transmitted to us. signing the player. "
A little more than three weeks later, Balotelli was confirmed as a Liverpool player.
There is a difference in their comments, of course. Klopp is a fan of Pulisic because he knew him from his time in Dortmund; this admiration was made tangible by the offer made for him. No wonder, given his superb interjection of helping his team defeat Liverpool in a 3-1 win on Sunday night.
Rodgers, however, never wanted to sign Balotelli, with the Northern Irishman raising the case following his dismissal. "After playing AC Milan in a friendly match in America, I was asked a question, and it was not anyone that I thought was adapted or adapted to the profile of what we were looking for, "he explained.
When we were struggling to get the type of player we wanted for that role, the property thought it was a player I could develop.
"They thought it was a £ 50million player that they could relate for £ 16million, and I can maybe expand on it how I've developed some of the other players. "
Rodgers and Balotelli have never really worked
Yet a lesson learned: things are changing in football, and also in the transfer market. 19659002] Rodgers did not want the former Manchester City striker, but he quickly emerged as the only viable option The circumstances have changed, and not for the better.
This does not mean that history will repeat itself this year. for Pulisic is unlikely to the extreme, with Klopp himself inflexible the incoming of the Reds Business was completed after the move of £ 65million from Alisson last week.
Indeed, the Brazilian approach is another proof of the volatility of the market and of how situations can change rapidly. In the space of one summer, Liverpool has considered Loris Karius and Danny Ward as their options as No. 1, with a move for the unrealistic Roman cap due to the demands of the Serie A club and the interest of Real Madrid
. two weeks, however, the situation has changed. Karius' performances allowed Ward to have the chance, but Alisson emerged as a real option shortly thereafter. Klopp, and his recruiting team, had to act
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Alisson signs for Liverpool
"There was an early chance.When we found out that there was more luck, we had to jump on, "he said, speaking to Charlotte.
"It's no secret that there was a little more contact with the agents, and if something happened, we wanted to show ourselves. interested in the project and soon enough we could do it. "
And so, for the rest of this summer. Klopp said – in public – that Liverpool would not pursue more revenue, including Nabil Fekir.
"We have everything we need for next season," he said last week. "I do not think we're going to do anything more (on the market) I'm pretty sure."
One of Liverpool's strengths lately is their planning. They no longer fear a situation similar to that of Balotelli in 2014, mainly because of the synergy between the German boss and the recruitment team.
Danny Ward is a Victim of Circumstances (Image: PAUL ELLIS / AFP / Getty Images
When Klopp says that he's finished for the summer, his word should be considered read.
But he is not too stubborn to adapt, if necessary.His comments on – in his words – his "bulls ***" of 2016 prove it, as does the speed with which Liverpool tore up the scenario and pursued Alisson once again.
Within three weeks of closing the window, Melwood's revolving door will look like an evacuation chute
Liverpool should know that There will be no panic this summer with their offers probably coming in.
But in a team that continues to evolve under Klopp, it's also acknowledged that it's a good thing. will always adapt, rather than die, even if it means changing course
