Jurgen Klopp tells Robert Lewandowski story to prove Darwin Nunez point

On Dec 30, 2022

Jurgen Klopp remembers a story of how Robert Lewandowski left him with pockets full of Euros – and that’s why he’s not panicking over big-money signing Darwin Nunez.

The Liverpool boss called for calm over criticism of record buy Nunez after he missed big chances against Manchester City and Aston Villa in the last week. The Uruguayan striker hasn’t scored since November 12 after also drawing a blank for his country at the World Cup.

While he has nine so far this season since his £85m switch from Benfica in the summer ahead of tonight’s clash with Leicester at Anfield.

But Klopp knows the pressure on strikers and can see similarities in Lewandowski’s first-season struggles at Borussia Dortmund.

The Poland hitman scored just eight league goals in his debut campaign in Germany in 2010 and was even played out of position because he didn’t earn the right to start as a No 9. But he has gone on to become one of the world’s best strikers over the last decade.

“I was sitting in a press conference and journalists, when I started playing Lewandowski, they asked me why [Lucas] Barrios was not playing,” said Klopp.

Jurgen Klopp used to make money out of Robert Lewandowski’s failures in training

“Lucas Barrios had scored 16 goals that season and was the No 9 in our team. So Lewi started playing in different positions to adapt to different things, didn’t like it too much.

“The Polish journalists were not too friendly with me because he didn’t play No 9, he played in a 4-2-3-1 at 10. I thought at that time it made absolute sense to develop his game. So all different things. There are a lot of similarities to be honest.

“Yes, I think Lewi would tell the same story. We had shooting sessions where he didn’t finish off one. We had bets all the time for €10 if you score more than 10 times I will pay you 10, if you don’t you have to pay me. My pocket was full of money.”

Jurgen Klopp can see a parallel between Darwin Nunez and Robert Lewandowski
(Image: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

Nunez has the pressure of the price tag which Lewandowski didn’t have to deal with. While he also has the constant criticism on social media and the clipping up of misses by rival fans to deal with.

But Klopp has no concerns that the big summer signing will come good in a Red shirt. He added: “It’s all about staying calm. When you see the potential, stay calm.

“It’s so difficult in the world we are living in. I don’t mean this personally but because of you asking and making a big fuss of everything, then the supporters, social media and all these kinds of things.

Darwin Nunez has taken criticism for his first half a season at Liverpool
(Image: Offside via Getty Images)

“The more you can shut off that, the better it is. I think we all agree that the potential is so obvious. Yes, is everything right? No. But it is all coming. You do it like this, the next time you do it like that.

“I had this situation with Lewi but it is not only Lewi. He is the obvious comparison, I understand. It’s not only with him. It’s just about staying calm and I am super calm.”