Gini Wijnaldum opens up on relationship with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp

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Liverpool midfielder Gini Wijnaldum has revealed he has a ‘love-hate’ relationship with manager Jurgen Klopp.

The 28-year-old has been speaking about club life whilst on international duty with the Netherlands, and admitted that while the dressing room is a harmonious place, things can ‘boil over’.

The star recalled being left out of the starting XI against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final second leg last season, which famously saw him come off the bench to score two goals as the Reds overturned a 3-0 aggregate scoreline.

He told The Sunday Mirror: “With the manager, it is more or less hate and love. I am sure he has the best interests at heart with every player in the squad, but sometimes you are so involved in a match and the manager is still chasing you.

“Then you just boil over sometimes and, in my case, I do get angry with him. I still don’t know if what happened against Barcelona was his real plan.

“But that night I was so angry and so disappointed that he did not start me. Looking back, we can say things worked out all right.”

TBR’s view

There is no cause for concern after Wijnaldum’s comments for Liverpool fans.

If anything, this is the way a dressing room should be between a manager and his players.

It is plainly obvious how happy the current crop are at Anfield, and it is important for Klopp to strike the right balance.

He needs to keep players on their toes and there needs to be passion and emotion.

It’s about mutual respect, and that appears to be coarsing through the Liverpool dressing room and it’s something that will see them competing for silverware for as long as the German remains in charge.