Roberto De Zerbi: Jurgen Klopp says he 'couldn't coach' like Brighton boss

Jurgen Klopp says he ‘couldn’t coach’ the way Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi does. The Liverpool manager simply lacks the personality.

Liverpool host Brighton on Sunday in what will be a fascinating game for several reasons. First and foremost, it's the Reds' first game back after the international break and their first since falling to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

But it's also a meeting with a team that Liverpool struggle against. They've only won once in their last eight meetings with the Seagulls, including a 2-2 draw earlier this season.

In fact, at Anfield, where Sunday's game will take place, Liverpool haven't beaten Brighton since November 2019.

This one also has another story in the background, though. Roberto De Zerbi, the Brighton manager, is one of the favourites to take over at Liverpool when Jurgen Klopp leaves in the summer.

He's actually moved up the shortlist ahead of the game, too, with Xabi Alonso removing himself from the running.

Interestingly, given he's a contender to replace Klopp, the current Liverpool boss views De Zerbi's style of coaching as one he couldn't replicate himself. It just doesn't suit his personality.

Jurgen Klopp on Roberto De Zerbi

“The way they play [makes them so difficult to play against]," Klopp told a press conference on Friday. "It’s a really different way; I couldn’t coach that, it goes against my personality! But it’s a good watch.

“It’s very demanding for the players - clear positioning, pass in the right moment. He’s a top coach, he’s doing really well.

“It’s super interesting to see and I like watching them, to be honest. That makes it tricky. It’s possession-based but even more structured from a positional point of view for each player than City or whatever."

Klopp puts a lot of emphasis on personality in playing style - more than just about any other manager, in fact. De Zerbi is very different in that respect, and certainly takes more of a chess-match approach.

The real question that faces Liverpool now is whether you can actually move from one approach to the other. It's not a question that's particularly easy to answer but if the Italian does take over, it could be a bit of a culture shock for the Reds' squad.

At the same time, perhaps that's exactly what Liverpool need. Anyone trying to follow Klopp's approach in a similar way will struggle to be viewed as anything other than an imitation.

De Zerbi can naturally avoid quite a lot of comparisons with his way of doing things. And that might be best for Liverpool going forward.