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The 'normal one' Klopp pledges 'full throttle' football

October 9, 2015

Germany's Jürgen Klopp has held his first press conference as Liverpool's new manager. The new man at the helm promised that under his guidance, the Reds would play at "full throttle."

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Jürgen Klopp PK Liverpool
Image: Getty Images/A. Livesey

Speaking to members of both the English and German press on Friday Klopp appeared to be a little surprised by the media hype surrounding his much-anticipated appointment. But at the same time he expressed confidence that he could soon bring trophies to Liverpool.

"When I left Dortmund I said, it's not so important what people think when you come in, it's more important what they think when you leave," he told a packed press conference at Liverpool's Anfield stadium.

"Please give us the time to work on it. I think if I am sat here in four years I think we will have won one title in this time. I'm pretty sure," he added.

This quickly led to discussion on social media about just what the 48-year-old German meant by "title." There was some speculation that Klopp meant this in the sense of the German equivalent, while some member of the English press may have interpreted this to mean a Premier League championship.

Aware of Liverpool's proud history, Klopp described his appointment as manager of "one of the biggest clubs in the world" as "the biggest honor I can imagine."

'The normal one'

Asked to compare himself with Chelsea coach Jose Morinho, who famously described himself as "the special one" on arrival in England, Klopp had a ready reply.

"I don't want to describe myself. I'm a totally normal guy. I'm the normal one," he said, sparking an instant Twitter hashtag (#TheNormalOne).

Jürgen Klopp Trikot Liverpool
The "normal one" displays his new colors - and checks out his new homeImage: Reuters/C. Brough Livepic

"I am a normal guy from the Black Forest," he added, expanding on the theme. "I don't compare myself with genius managers in this club's history."

'Full throttle with a big heart'

Klopp, however, did pledge to deliver changes at Anfield that would soon see the Reds playing "full throttle" football with a "big heart."

Klopp, who won two Bundesliga titles and a German Cup during his eight seasons at Dortmund, officially joined Liverpool late on Thursday after signing a three-year contract. During the press conference he also confirmed that this two assistants at Dortmund, Zeljko Buvac and Peter Krawietz, would join him at Liverpool.

He was to meet with his players for the first time later on Friday.

pfd/msh (AFP, Reuters, dpa)