Although Xabi Alonso is the overriding favorite to turn into subsequent Liverpool supervisor, Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi is one other convincing candidate. We discover out why.
For the reason that announcement that Jurgen Klopp shall be stepping down from his place on the finish of the season, hypothesis has been ongoing over his successor.
Liverpool started the method in November, when Klopp first advised Fenway Sports activities Group president Mike Gordon he would depart, and a variety of candidates have already been drawn up.
Amongst these are Alonso and De Zerbi, who’ve been introduced as probably the most sensible successors to a really legendary supervisor.
Many now appear to be all-in on Alonso as the subsequent Liverpool supervisor, however there isn’t a assure the Spaniard will take over – and there’s one other outstanding possibility over on the AMEX.
This Is Anfield spoke to Albion Obsessed (@AlbionObsessed) to be taught extra about De Zerbi’s work at Brighton – and whether or not he is able to step as much as turn into Liverpool supervisor.
Firstly, ought to De Zerbi be among the many candidates for Liverpool?
My Albion aspect says no, due to course I’d love him to remain at this membership for a really very long time and construct on the success he’s already achieved with us within the final year-and-a-half.
The sensible aspect of me says sure.
De Zerbi has all of the makings of an elite coach, all you’ll want to do is search for what those that work carefully with him have stated about his requirements.
The man lives and breathes soccer, it’s his obsession. If I used to be Liverpool he could be proper on the high of my shortlist.
What are you able to inform us about his fashion of play? How does it examine to Klopp’s Liverpool?
De Zerbi soccer is excessive threat, excessive reward.
Probably excessive threat for the time being given we don’t have a defensive midfielder who can plug the hole that Moises Caicedo left when he left for Chelsea final summer time.
I feel, if he was to get the Liverpool job, it might be a mode of soccer the Liverpool gamers would actually take pleasure in to play.
It’s comparable within the sense that within the majority of Liverpool’s video games, you see nearly all of possession, however I feel there could be a rise of tempo and urgent that the Liverpool gamers would want to regulate to.
Does he get entangled in transfers or would he be extra of a ‘head coach’?
He definitely has a say.
He’s talked about in a whole lot of press conferences that the membership ‘know his concept’ with regards the gamers he feels he must push this group of gamers to the subsequent stage.
He performed a really important function within the mortgage signing of Ansu Fati. He appears to promote the membership and the mission very nicely.
I’m undecided he would want to do a lot promoting with regards gamers coming to Liverpool, but it surely’s clear to see the respect the Italian has inside the recreation.
Gamers could be extraordinarily excited to play beneath him.
How about his man-management?
De Zerbi doesn’t stand for any dangerous eggs, that’s for certain. Just a few examples being Leandro Trossard and Robert Sanchez.
Earlier than Leandro’s transfer to Arsenal final January, there have been reviews of some run-ins with Roberto and the remainder of the squad.
He needed his transfer so dangerous that he determined to go away for Belgium and go on strike till the deal was achieved. I feel De Zerbi was relieved he was saved away.
Robert Sanchez, very a lot an analogous state of affairs. He was dropped for Jason Steele and after just a few weeks determined that he wouldn’t play for the membership once more.
For the latter a part of the season he was saved away, while we clinched European soccer for the primary time in our historical past.
As quickly as De Zerbi will get the sense {that a} participant doesn’t wish to play for the membership anymore, they’re gone.
Lots of the Liverpool job is how a supervisor speaks, so is De Zerbi a PR man or extra of a Klopp kind?
Roberto definitely hasn’t watched his mouth just a few instances throughout his tenure.
He’s had his say on the officers, and doesn’t appear to carry again. He’s additionally very sincere with the press about his relationship along with his gamers.
He’ll all the time give his sincere opinion about the place gamers are at with regards their kind, progress and potential.
Many instances he has talked about what gamers can enhance even when it appears, no less than from a fan’s perspective, that stated participant has had a near-perfect recreation.
One in every of my favorite issues that has come from De Zerbi’s straight speaking is a followers chant of “De Zerbi’s proper, the refs are shite.”
Lastly – is he prepared for the Liverpool job?
I feel he’s prepared for any job in world soccer.
So many have spoken about De Zerbi because the pure successor to Pep Guardiola when he strikes on from Manchester Metropolis, which is a big testomony to the job he has achieved for us.
As I stated originally, I actually hope he stays with us for a very long time, however I do know that’s not how soccer works, particularly at a membership outdoors of the ‘massive six’.
• Thanks once more to Albion Obsessed for his or her perception on Roberto De Zerbi. Observe Albion Obsessed with Twitter @AlbionObsessed and subscribe to their YouTube channel.
