Former Liverpool assistant manager Pako Ayestaran has been keeping a close eye on the Reds’ development under Jurgen Klopp and the Spaniard is impressed by what he has seen so far.
Ayestaran spent three highly successful years as Liverpool‘s assistant manager between 2004 and 2007. The Reds won the Champions League and the FA Cup in Ayestaran’s first two seasons as Rafael Benitez’s assistant before making it to the final of the Champions League again in 2007.
As per Liverpoolfc.com, the Spaniard still regularly follows his former team and last season, he returned to Anfield to witness a 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion. The performance certainly impressed Ayestaran and left him with no doubt that the current group of players are in safe hands under Klopp.
“I have really enjoyed watching them since Jürgen came,” he said in ‘Back at Melwood… with Pako Ayestaran’ (reported by Liverpoolfc.com).
“I have followed many games on the television and I think the first game I attended live was last season against West Brom.
“I was so impressed by the pace, the exchange of positions [while] keeping the balance of the team. The team has the right mix of pace, aggressiveness, positional game.
“I remember that week, they [also] played a midweek [League Cup] game against Spurs. Liverpool tinkered the line-up but, despite 10 or 11 changes, the team played mostly at the same level and it was great to see.
“To be honest, I really like [Klopp]; I followed him before when he worked in Dortmund and I think he is doing great.”
In the Champions League this season, Liverpool topped the group and then mauled FC Porto in the round of 16 to set up a mouthwatering clash quarterfinal clash with Manchester City.
Ayestaran finds no reason as to why the Reds cannot go all the way in the competition and win the Champions League after more than a decade.
“The Champions League doesn’t allow you any mistakes, you have to be focused, determined in every half game you are going to play,” he added.
“In this case, I think Liverpool has the quality and the level to go all the way. If they are as focused and determined as they have been until the last game, then why can’t they go all the way?
“In a knockout competition, anything can happen.”
There is no doubting Liverpool’s quality. We can go all the way in the Champions League this term. Of course, we have Manchester City in front of us but there’s nothing to be scared of.
The Reds became the first team to give City a taste of defeat in the league this season. Going by the fact, I feel we can beat City in the Champions League quarterfinals.
