Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp drafted in adventurer and TV personality Ben Fogle to help boost his players' mental agility and resilience this summer.
Football is a game of fine margins and the season can be gruelling so the Reds boss asked the explorer, who has scaled Mount Everest and rowed across the Atlantic, to speak to the squad about having the right mindset as they embark on another Premier League campaign.
The 47-year-old BBC presenter attended the club’s summer training camp in Evian and talked in detail about how he dealt with pressure during his expeditions and the importance of those around you on the team.
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The talk was inspiring, but Klopp wasn’t convinced when Fogle claimed even the Liverpool boss could take on the Atlantic.
"I absolutely loved it! His expeditions are insane!" Klopp told Sky Sports of Fogle’s visit.
"We're not saying we have the same challenges or that we're in life-threatening circumstances; the challenges are different of course but in many, many moments, we have to have the same mindset.
“We have to break through something, break down something, and when you might be thinking, 'No chance!', you have to be stubborn, resilient... all these qualities.
"What gives Ben the confidence to get through it is the preparation, the people he's working with. Without them, he said he'd have no chance of rowing the Atlantic. He told me he could make me row the Atlantic! I said, 'You don't know me, really, no chance!'.
"But you really get a sense for what is possible out there, what crazy things happen on this planet because of an idea.
"Our idea was to be a really successful team and we are on our way. Nobody needed us or wanted us to be successful apart from our fans but we thought let's give it a try. That's how Ben thinks. He probably will not stop and we will not stop."
Fogle himself revealed he now has a new-found respect for footballers and the weekly battle they have on the pitch after spending time with the Liverpool squad.
Speaking on BBC’s The One Show on Monday night, Fogle was asked about his link-up with Klopp and admitted: “It’s pretty random isn’t it?
“Jurgen got in touch with me, we had a mutual friend and someone had come along to hear my show which is all about how I have tried to silence that inner voice of doubt we all have.
“I’ve had it ever since I was a child. That voice that goads you that you’re going to fail, you’re not going to win.
“I went out to their summer camp in Evian for a couple of days and it was amazing.
“I confessed to Jurgen at the beginning, I know nothing about football, I’m hopeless at football, I don’t even particularly enjoy football but do you know what? It changed my whole perspective on footballers and football,” Fogle revealed.
“The skill, the art, the dedication, the teamwork that went into it.
“What I tried to do was bring some of my own experiences of the bigger expeditions I’ve done - climbing Everest or rowing across the Atlantic - and contextualise them in this sort of multi-mountain climb that footballers have throughout the season. Thirty-odd games, you win one but then you’re back on to the hamster wheel.”
It seems to have worked as Liverpool fought hard against Manchester City on Sunday for a 2-2 draw.
After a poor first-half display, the Reds were resolute and took the lead twice against their Premier League title rivals.
Heading into the international break, the result means unbeaten Liverpool are one point behind leaders Chelsea after seven games.
