For many, FC Liverpool under Jürgen Klopp is currently regarded as the non plus ultra of top European football. To get a place in the star ensemble of the ex-BVB coach is simply a special honour.
Dani Ceballos would have had the chance to transfer from Real Madrid to Liverpool on a loan basis last summer – but he decided against the reigning Champions League winner and in favour of FC Arsenal. The reason: Klopp’s playing philosophy.
“Klopp is a great coach, but you have to look at each team’s playing philosophy,” said the midfielder of the Spanish “Marca”. Ceballos preferred Unai Emery’s system: “That a club like Liverpool is interested in you makes me proud. But I chose Arsenal. Emery had taken me by the hand and said that we would walk the path together, but Emery’s promise didn’t last long. In November 2019, the coach was dismissed from the Gunners. Ceballos now plays in the Premier League under Mikel Arteta and is on loan from Real until the summer. He is convinced that he made the right decision by turning down the Reds.
“At the moment, players of my playing philosophy would not fit into a team like Liverpool in the best possible way. But the fact that I’m associated with the big boys is because I do some things right,” the 23-year-old said.