Jurgen Klopp has revealed the secret weapon behind Liverpool’s nerves of steel in their penalty shoot-out Wembley triumph.
The Reds completed a full set of 11 successful spot kicks from the entire side left on the pitch at the end of 120 minutes, including hero goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, despite the mind games Chelsea keeper Kepa attempted.
And the manager explained that part of the credit must go to a specialist German company called neuro11, who are a neuroscience team which works on mental strengthening processes in stressful football situations.
The German based business describe their work as “harnessing and strengthening the role the brain plays in high level athletic performance”, and began working with the Liverpool squad during pre-season.
They were back at the Reds’ training ground last week to work on set piece situations, including penalties, before the final against Chelsea, and Klopp explained:
“Somehow I had a feeling we deserved it, Caoimhin especially deserved it, and you have to say that we have neuro11,” Klopp told the club’s TV channel.
“We worked with them In the pre-season, and they were training set pieces with the boys in the last few weeks. Each player went through a proper drill, psychological, to do with penalties, corners and free-kicks.
“But penalties as well. So we had a list for the boys. First five and then six, seven, eight. But some of the players were not on the field anymore.
“From eight onwards they were not even close on any list, so it was really exciting. Compliments to the boys, compliments to neuro11 they did an incredible job with the boys. I am really happy we could win it like this.”
The company use processes aimed at getting players completely in the zone and working on the small detail which reduce stress, and it was noticeable Kelleher retrieved the ball after every spot kick he faced, to give it directly to the next Liverpool penalty-taker.
That removed the chance for Kepa to take the ball and get close to the taker to play mind games. Kelleher himself was a beacon of calm as he converted a brilliantly taken penalty and then watched his opposite number sky the ball over the bar.
Klopp believes the Irishman deserves his success, but insisted that Alisson remains firmly as the club’s number one. “It’s a very special story for Caoimhin,” he said.
“But look, is Ali the better goalkeeper than Caoimhin? Yeah, he is still, definitely. Ali is for me the best goalkeeper in the world, but I think we have the best number two in the world as well.”
