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Lewandowski opens up on his relationship with Jurgen Klopp

Lewandowski, Klopp
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Robert Lewandowski has described Jurgen Klopp as a ‘father figure’ while opening up on the close relationship they forged while at Dortmund.

Robert Lewandowski says he still holds Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp in high regard after recalling their time spent together at Borussia Dortmund.

The ever-performing Bayern Munich striker thrived under Klopp, who helped him improve his game and become one of the most lethal forwards around.

Klopp was the man who signed Lewandowski for Dortmund, bringing him for a mere £4m back in 2010.

Four fruitful seasons together followed in which the Polish forward scored 103 goals in 187 games and fired the team to two Bundesliga titles and a German Cup win.

In his own right, Lewandowski is arguably the best forward in club football right now and was full of praises remembering the impact Klopp has made on his career so far.

The Bayern forward told the Players’ Tribune: “I could talk to Jurgen about anything. I could trust him. He is a family man, and he has so much empathy for what goes on in your private life.”

Lewandowski remembered one time in particular where words of encouragement from Klopp proved to be all the difference.

“When the second season began, I was still struggling. I also felt that Jurgen wanted something from me, but I didn’t understand exactly what.”

“So after a really bad defeat to Marseille in the Champions League – I think we lost 3–0 – I went to see him. I said, ‘Jurgen, come on. We have to speak. Just tell me what you expect from me.”

“I can’t remember everything he told me – my German still wasn’t the best – but through the few words I knew and from his body language, we understood each other. We had a great chat.”

Lewandowski added on his relationship with Klopp: “Jurgen was not only a father figure to me. As a coach, he was like the ‘bad’ teacher. And I mean that in the best sense of the word.”

“Let me explain. Think back to you when you were in school. Which teacher do you remember the most? Not the one who made life easy for you and never expected anything from you.”

“No, no, no. You remember the bad teacher, the one who was strict with you. The one who put pressure on you and did everything to get the best out of you.”

“That’s the teacher who made you better, right? And Jurgen was like that.”

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