Jurgen Klopp says youth coaches are largely responsible for the success of Portuguese footballers, in a taped entry on the Football Talks forum. Asked what he likes about Portuguese footballers, the German praised their competitiveness and highlighted the role of coaches.
“I value the highest education in football. As a rule, they are incredibly good coaches in training, and perhaps also in the transition to senior football. When we think of the great players, Cristiano Ronaldo as well as Bernardo Silva make Portugal a great country in football » , He said.
“I was a normal player, but I could have been better. My coach was the postman – with all due respect to him – but he just told us to run. Perhaps, if I had had another kind of follow-up, it would have been more different.”
Klopp also cited social context as central to this difference.
“Once I came to Portugal, I went out of curiosity to see where Vigo grew up. And between the buildings, in a modest neighborhood, there was a playground, a five-a-side soccer field, with lights, so that the children could play at night. In Germany, the neighbors would not allow this to happen. That without protest, because of the noise.”
