Champions League final: Ahead of Liverpool-Tottenham clash, team managers answer fan FAQs
Liverpool and Tottenham will clash in the Champions League final in Madrid on June 1.
By ET Bureau |
Agencies
Jurgen Klopp (L) and Mauricio Pochettino (R)
Liverpool and Tottenham will clash in the Champions League final in Madrid on June 1. Not long ago, the famous managers of the teams, Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino, answered the most frequently searched questions about them.
Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool Nationality: German Age: 51
Is Jurgen Klopp angry? Very rarely. I know it looks like that during a game, but it is never for a long time. I am angry with myself for some things I did, but even that does not last long. With other people, the people I love and care for, I am never angry. I think people think that I’m angry from my expressions during a game. I have the same expression when I see a cute little baby. That’s just my face.
How many languages does Jurgen Klopp speak?
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Two-and-a-half. I speak German, English, and a little bit of French. I can understand French but having a conversation is possible only if I think a lot about what I am saying. I try French if someone, maybe a player, speaks only French, like in the beginning with Naby Keita.
Who would play Jurgen Klopp in a film? I would prefer Brad Pitt. He’s a really good-looking guy. I’m not that good-looking, but in film, it’s always a little bit more than (looks). My missus also likes him. I hope there will never be a movie about me. The most interesting part of my life was probably when I was younger, so it cannot be Brad Pitt because he is too old for that.
Does Jurgen Klopp play Fortnite? No, never. I don’t like these games. My generation, we played Atari. It was tennis like… (hand gestures indicating stick figures moving on a screen). It was not that interesting. It never kept you hooked for long. Video games are like golf. If you don’t play them for a long time, you lose touch and become very bad. Come on, forget it.
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What car does Jurgen Klopp drive? Vauxhall Insignia. People think I drive a Porsche and that’s just not true. I had a Porsche Cabriolet for exactly half a year.
What is Jurgen Klopp’s favourite film?
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Forrest Gump, without a shadow of doubt. It’s history, it’s art, it’s Tom Hanks at his best. It took 10 years for me to stop thinking of him as Forrest Gump when watching his other movies. I have a lot of other favourite films as well. I like the whole Rocky series. When it came out, I was around 15-16 years old, dreaming of doing something special in my life, and I was not that skilled. Then Rocky came out. Not skilled, not good at the basics, did not have a good starting point, and then boom (whistling sound). It gave a whole generation a lot of hope. I’m a big James Bond fan also.
How has Jurgen Klopp transformed Liverpool? I came in and found a sleeping giant. People were in a good mood, but not the best mood. I didn’t change much in the beginning. I just wanted to learn. Everybody knows what a brilliant manager Brendan Rodgers is (Klopp’s predecessor). So, the problem was not with Brendan, so there must have been something else. That’s what we tried to understand and change step by step. The biggest change since I took over is the atmosphere at Melwood (LFC’s training ground). We love coming here in the morning. The club gives us opportunities to train in Tenerife. We’ve been there three times during the international break with players who didn’t have to play for their countries. We got all the players and staff, along with their families to Tenerife. We are so close. We know everything about each other.
Does Jurgen Klopp have fake teeth? I had a lot of problems with my teeth. When you reach my age, you’ll know (wry smile). So, I had to take medicines, antibiotics, and stuff like that. It wasn’t working out. So, I asked the dentist whether we can do new crowns or whatever and he said ‘Yeah, why not’. It’s not that I saw Bobby Firmino’s teeth and said: ‘I want them’. It was not like that. In the end, we did it. When we were halfway through, the dentist began to use this machine that went: zzzzz (rasping sound). It was a long procedure and I had to go to the toilet. There was a mirror and when I looked at myself in it, I knew I had to go through with the surgery because my teeth were all chipped and I couldn’t go back to what they were before. The new ones are pretty comfortable though.
Mauricio Pochettino, Tottenham Nationality: Argentinean Age: 47
How do you pronounce Mauricio Pochettino? Po-chay-ttino. Easy. It’s an Italian name. In Italian, it’s Po-kay-tino. I like Po-chayttino more.
Who is Mauricio Pochettino’s idol? It was always Diego Armando Maradona. I had a picture of him on my wall as a child. And then we were teammates at Newell’s Old Boys where I shared a room with him. It was unbelievable. At night I checked if it was really him, and how he slept. He’s a very good friend now.
What is Mauricio Pochettino’s favourite food? Easy to say — the asado (Argentinian barbecue). But I love different styles of food. Italian, Japanese, fish and chips…. I had never had fish and chips before I came to England.
What car does Mauricio Pochettino drive? I have a Bentley. It was a present from Daniel (Levy, club chairman). But I think it’s like a loan (laughs). Maybe on my last day at the club he’ll say, ‘Mauricio, give me the keys’.”
How did Mauricio Pochettino rejuvenate Spurs? It was collective work. We had a plan, a vision. We sometimes took decisions that were not popular. Five years ago, we were trying to reduce the gap between us and the top sides. Now, we are among the contenders.
Who is Mauricio Pochettino married to? Karina. We met in Rosario when I was 18. And we got married when I was 26.
Does Mauricio Pochettino dye his hair? No. It’s natural. That means no stress for me. The stress is coming here [points to grey beard]. It’s funny, my hair is fine, but my beard and chest hair are white.
Does Mauricio Pochettino’s son [Maurizio] play for Tottenham? Yes. He’s playing in the under-18 academy. There’s a lot of pressure on him. He’s doing what he loves. We’ll see if he can become a professional.
Meet Jadon Sancho, The First Footballer At 19 To Represent England’s Senior Team
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By Rohan Abraham
The 19-year-old is the first footballer born after the turn of the millennium to represent England’s senior team. Here’s a look at his rise.
(Image: Agencies)
By Rohan AbrahamThe 19-year-old is the first footballer born after the turn of the millennium to represent England’s senior team. Here’s a look at his rise.(Image: Agencies)
Born in a low-income London suburb, Jadon Sancho honed his game by playing in back alleys and side streets.
(Image: AFP)
Born in a low-income London suburb, Jadon Sancho honed his game by playing in back alleys and side streets.(Image: AFP)
Aged seven, Sancho joined Watford’s youth system, where his dribbling ability first came to light. Former coaches have spoken about how he never shied away from the challenge of playing above his age group.
Aged seven, Sancho joined Watford’s youth system, where his dribbling ability first came to light. Former coaches have spoken about how he never shied away from the challenge of playing above his age..
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Few English footballers opt to ply their trade in Europe, but Sancho has been conditioned to the ordeals of travel. Aged 12, he became a boarder at Watford’s Academy, shunning the four hour commute to Uxbridge that was a parMeet Jadon Sancho, the first footballer at 19 to represent England’s senior team of his daily routine.
(Image: AFP)
Few English footballers opt to ply their trade in Europe, but Sancho has been conditioned to the ordeals of travel. Aged 12, he became a boarder at Watford’s Academy, shunning the four hour commute t..
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After seven years at Watford, Sancho’s head was turned by an offer from Manchester City. In the company of pedigreed foreign players, his game developed further, and he began to catch the eye of foreign clubs.
After seven years at Watford, Sancho’s head was turned by an offer from Manchester City. In the company of pedigreed foreign players, his game developed further, and he began to catch the eye of fore..
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Despite Pep Guardiola’s best efforts at convincing him to stay, Sancho was wary of becoming a benchwarmer at the Emirates Stadium. He signed for Borussia Dortmund in 2017.
(Image: AFP)
Despite Pep Guardiola’s best efforts at convincing him to stay, Sancho was wary of becoming a benchwarmer at the Emirates Stadium. He signed for Borussia Dortmund in 2017.(Image: AFP)
After a relatively slow first season, he managed to win the confidence of the manager and ingratiate himself with senior players like Marco Reus and Mario Götze.
(Image: Reuters)
After a relatively slow first season, he managed to win the confidence of the manager and ingratiate himself with senior players like Marco Reus and Mario Götze.(Image: Reuters)
In October 2018, Sancho netted against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, making him the first Englishman to score for a non-British team in the competition since David Beckham’s curling free-kick for Real Madrid in 2005.
In October 2018, Sancho netted against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, making him the first Englishman to score for a non-British team in the competition since David Beckham’s curling free-k..
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With the season far from over, Sancho claimed yet another personal milestone in February when he broke a long-standing Bundesliga record. He bettered Lukas Podolski’s exploits from the 2003/04 season to become the youngest player in Germany’s top flight to score nine league goals and provide over 10 assists.
(Image: AFP)
With the season far from over, Sancho claimed yet another personal milestone in February when he broke a long-standing Bundesliga record. He bettered Lukas Podolski’s exploits from the 2003/04 season..
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On March 22, 2019, a couple of days before his 19th birthday, Sancho was handed his first competitive start for the Three Lions by manager Gareth Southgate. He received a standing ovation at the final whistle after notching two assists against the Czech Republic at London’s Wembley Stadium.
(Image: Reuters)
On March 22, 2019, a couple of days before his 19th birthday, Sancho was handed his first competitive start for the Three Lions by manager Gareth Southgate. He received a standing ovation at the fina..
