Pepijn Lijnders, the former assistant manager at Liverpool, has been unveiled as the head coach of Red Bull Salzburg. Lijnders saw Jurgen Klopp’s resignation as an opportunity to step into a head coach role and establish himself. Joining him at Salzburg are two other ex-Liverpool staff members, Vitor Matos as his No. 2 and Andreas Kornmayer as the head of the fitness department.
Lijnders has clearly taken inspiration from his time at Liverpool and aims to bring the same intensity and style of play to Salzburg. He coined the phrase “Our identity is intensity!” during his time at Anfield, and that remains his mantra as he takes charge of the Austrian outfit.
In terms of tactics, Lijnders plans to replicate the intense pressing style that Klopp implemented at Liverpool. He emphasizes that counter-pressing is not just a suggestion, but a law for his team. The main idea is to have possession of the ball and quickly regain it when lost.
Lijnders firmly believes in the 4-3-3 formation, with three strikers providing an unpredictable pressing style. He highlights the importance of midfielders joining in with the pressing to create a cohesive and effective system.
Another aspect that Lijnders plans to implement at Salzburg is a leadership group of senior players. Just as Klopp relied on players like Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah at Liverpool, Lijnders wants to have 11 captains on the field who take responsibility both on and off the field. Additionally, he will select a group of five players to be the face of the team.
Lijnders also places a strong emphasis on youth development. He expressed his desire to work with a club that has a strong academy, as young players are willing to give their all for their coach. While experienced players may sometimes look for an easy way out, young players are willing to put in the effort and determination.
Overall, Pepijn Lijnders’ appointment as head coach of Red Bull Salzburg brings with it the influence and style he learned from working alongside Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. With an emphasis on intensity, pressing, and youth development, Lijnders aims to make his mark at Salzburg and continue his successful coaching career.