Jurgen Klopp believes Marcelo Bielsa is the hardest working coach in the game today as he paid tribute the Leeds United chief ahead of Saturday's clash at Anfield.
Bielsa brings his Leeds side to Merseyside for the Saturday evening clash which will be the Whites' first Premier League match for 16 years, following last season's Championship-title winning campaign.
Speaking to the press ahead of the two side's Premier League curtain raiser, Klopp spoke of his admiration for the Argentine, highlighting his work ethic, analytical approach and also Bielsa's convictions in his methods.
"I admire him," said the Liverpool boss.
"I was never close enough to him. I've watched his teams playing, that's pretty exceptional. The rest I got from newspapers and stuff like this and these kind of things. I analysed some games even in the past already and had a look at that.
We have a different approach. There are similarities obviously but there are big difference as well. I like him without knowing him as a proper character obviously. Maybe the hardest the working of all us, I don't know. I think we all work pretty much, but I don't think we can really compete with him in that area."
Bielsa famously gave some insight into the levels of preparation he undertakes during a 75-minute impromptu press conference in January 2019 as he responded to the 'spygate' saga in his own unique style by giving the media a behind-the-scenes look at the work his backroom staff put into each game.
"When I think about the analysis he presented around the Derby game, there was some information around the opponents!" Klopp exclaimed. "We have a lot of information I'm not sure we have exactly the same amount. That was funny as well.
"We didn't see any kind of suspicious people this week around our training ground, so it's all fine," he added when promoted by a member of the Liverpool press pack.
Tomorrow's clash will be the first time Klopp and Bielsa have locked horns and the German cannot wait for the occasion.
"I'm really looking forward to meeting him. He's an inspiration to all coaches because what he's doing, he sticks to it and really pushes it through and he's successful with it. So that makes him a very, very interesting figure in this business."
