Robert Lewandowski says Jurgen Klopp is a “bad teacher in the best sense of the word” as he opened up on why the Liverpool manager is a “father figure” to him.
Klopp was the man who brought Poland ace Lewandowski to the Bundesliga in 2010, signing him for Borussia Dortmund for £4million.
The two men enjoyed a stunning four seasons together, with Lewandowski plundering 103 goals in 187 games as Klopp steered Dortmund to two Bundesliga titles and the DFB-Pokal.
Lewandowski shared a strong bond with the charismatic German manager and used an example from the 2011/12 season to illustrate their relationship.
“When the second season began, I was still struggling,” the 32-year-old told The Players’ Tribune .
“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.
“Three days later, I scored a hat trick and assisted another goal against Augsburg. We won 4–0, and that was the turning point for me.
“It was a mental thing, a hang-up of some sort. And I think it had something to do with my father. “At the time I didn’t think about it. But now I realise that my conversation with Jurgen was like one of those I wish I could’ve had with my dad [who died when Lewandowski was a teenager]. One of those I had not been able to have in many, many years.
“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 and Klopp went on to win the league-cup double in the 2011/12 season and the Pole – who moved to Bayern Munich in 2014 – amusingly reflected on why his former manager was a “bad teacher”.
He added: “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.
