"Liverpool FC has announced that the entire squad has departed for Bali, Indonesia, for a seven-day secret training camp!"
Klopp chose Bali as the destination, setting up camp at a hidden training ground while giving the players a chance to relax properly in beautiful weather and scenery before the new season began. ... August 23, Bali Training Ground.
"4-3-3 will remain our main formation for the new season!"
"But we need a clearer definition of every player's role on the pitch!"
Klopp split the first-team players into two groups of eleven, arranging them on opposite sides of the pitch in 4-3-3 shapes.
"With the two fullbacks, one attacks and one defends."
"But I'm not going to explicitly decide who attacks and who stays back, because both of you have the ability to go forward."
"So we'll decide it through long passes."
"When the team attacks, if the ball is moved to the right and Arnold is the one playing it out, then Robertson on the left pushes up to join the attack. Arnold then switches play with a long diagonal pass to Robertson as he advances."
"After completing that long switch, Arnold stays back and forms the defensive structure with the two center backs. Robertson carries the ball forward and looks for more combinations with the central players or the winger."
Once Klopp finished, Robertson and Arnold raised their thumbs to show they understood the tactical idea. Klopp then moved on to redefine the roles of the front three.
"Last season, Firmino handled passing, organization, and link-up play, while sometimes pushing forward to attack the box."
"This season, when Firmino or Solanke comes on, I want you to play as an all-around Striker."
"I want you to make yourself the center of the attack, fully activating the Midfielders behind you and the wide players on both sides, bringing the entire attacking system to life."
The all-around Striker was an extremely important tactical role in modern football. Many teams were searching for that kind of center forward, and Klopp believed Firmino was a classic example of one.
Firmino nodded, then began scanning the pitch and measuring the distances around him. He had to make sure his positioning would always keep him closely connected to his teammates.
"As for our two wingers, Mané and Salah, this season, through the pulling and movement created by the three Midfielders, you'll often get one-on-one or one-on-two opportunities out wide."
"I want to see you dare to use your ability to beat players on the flank. Let the Premier League see just how explosive the two of you really are."
At this point, Klopp had reached the most crucial part of the new tactics: the arrangement of the three Midfielders.
With Fabinho and Rodri brought in, alongside Henderson, Wijnaldum, and Leo Lin, Klopp was very clear that Liverpool's midfield setup was now extremely strong.
Since the quality was there and the players were capable enough, they had to make full use of those strengths while covering their weaknesses.
"This season, we'll play with an irregular three-man midfield. It can be a single Defensive Midfielder setup, or it can become a double Defensive Midfielder setup."
"When the team attacks, the midfield will take up a single Defensive Midfielder shape. Henderson stays central and sits deeper. Whoever starts alongside him must push higher, staying diagonally behind Leo Lin to help take pressure off him."
"When Henderson is in the single Defensive Midfielder position, he'll start our attacks. Look for more long passes, switch the ball left and right, and feed possession to the two wingers."
"I saw the long-passing ability you showed at the World Cup. You've developed it well."
Henderson smiled. During the World Cup, he had indeed developed his long passing, turning it into a very precise and threatening weapon.
"Lin, among the three Midfielders, you're the one who needs to push the highest. You'll be responsible for supplying the attack. This season, your main attacking areas will be the right side and the center, building more connections with Firmino and Salah."
Firmino immediately turned and blew Leo Lin a kiss.
"Firmino, five push-ups. Right there." Klopp paused, then continued.
"As for the other side, Mané's service will come from the Midfielder on the opposite side, the one positioned diagonally behind Leo Lin."
"No matter who it is, I want you to do what Lin does. Move the ball quickly enough, and have the courage to play threatening passes."
"When we defend, we form a double Defensive Midfielder shape. Henderson stays on the right, mainly protecting the area in front of the right fullback and the right center back."
"The left central Midfielder drops back and becomes the left Defensive Midfielder, responsible for protecting the left side near the top of the box."
"Lin drops back into the center and protects the space between the two Defensive Midfielders."
"This gives us our brand-new defensive tactic, layered defense!"
As Klopp said this, Leo felt that it sounded familiar. Sure enough, a familiar figure soon appeared. He rubbed his bald head and waved at Leo Lin.
"Leo Lin!"
"It's been so long. Did you miss me?"
Leo Lin immediately smiled and waved back at Zubizarreta. Back when they were with the Spanish national team, he and Zubizarreta had been good friends.
Zubizarreta, the defensive coach from Athletic Bilbao whom Klopp and Krawietz had targeted from the start, had officially been brought to Liverpool for £1.5 million. He joined Liverpool's coaching staff for the new season and became the club's head defensive coach.
Rodri also looked pleased to see Zubizarreta. The two had worked together at Athletic Bilbao for a long time.
Klopp put an arm around Zubizarreta and had him introduce himself to the players.
"Lads, welcome Zubizarreta, the newest member of our coaching team and one of the key figures behind Spain's World Cup triumph."
"The defensive tactic I just mentioned was designed by Zubizarreta. I hope everyone gets along well this season."
The players applauded one after another, and Zubizarreta smiled brightly.
"No problem. I've got Lin backing me up. Everyone remember, I'm with Lin."
The players burst into laughter, and Leo Lin stepped forward to give him a hug.
With that, Klopp's tactical framework for the new season was basically complete, and the players began running through the drills.
Compared with last season, Klopp's new attacking tactics had actually become simpler. The main focus was creating stronger connections between the players.
Klopp no longer planned to design overly complicated tactical systems, because he now had a squad strong enough to support his ideas.
Simplifying the tactics, expressing the core concepts clearly on the pitch, allowing the team to show greater destructive power, and fully bringing out each player's strengths and abilities. That was Klopp's tactical direction for the new season.
On the defensive side, everything was handed over to Zubizarreta and Krawietz. The two hit it off immediately.
That very night, they got completely drunk in the coaches' room.
Yes, Klopp had originally sent the two of them to work on tactics. Instead, they found themselves talking like old friends who had finally reunited after many years.
Then Krawietz suddenly said, "Want a drink?"
The light that burst from Zubizarreta's eyes was something Krawietz would never forget for the rest of his life.
After that, things got completely out of hand.
By the time Zubizarreta woke up the next day, the first thing he saw was Klopp's helpless expression.
Then Klopp ended up joining their little drinking session too, and the three of them enjoyed another two bottles of whiskey.
The more they drank, the more inspiration Zubizarreta had. It was under those circumstances that Zubizarreta and Krawietz came up with the layered defense tactic.
Liverpool threw themselves fully into preparations, drilling the new tactics and entering total retreat mode.
And the day to test their work was coming soon. ... August 31, UEFA Super Cup Final.
Last season's Champions League winners, Liverpool, would face Europa League champions Atlético de Madrid.
...
...
If you'd like to support my work and unlock advanced chapters, you can follow me on p-@-treon.
p-@-treon/GhostParser (65 Chapters Ahead)
You can also follow as a free member to read a few advanced chapters.