Socceroo and Liverpool youngster Brad Smith has revealed the game style instigated by Australia boss Ange Postecoglou is not so different from how Reds manager Jurgen Klopp tells them to play.
Smith has been at Liverpool for seven years, picked up as a 14-year-old to join their academy. Now at 21, the future seems bright for the left-back after playing the last two game for the Socceroos in the world cup qualifiers against Tajikistan and Jordan.
“We actually play very similar, they like to press very hard and the tempo is always fast, so it’s good to have the manager at the club and to come into the Socceroos and the style is the same. It’s easier for me to fit in,” Smith said.
“The experience helped a lot, Klopps a great manager and he’s given me my chances. So far it’s going well and I’m enjoying it, that helps with the experience coming into the camp, with the big crowds, it calms you a bit.”
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Smith also opened up about how animated Klopp was towards the team, the 21-year-old made his first appearance for Liverpool against West Ham at the start of January in their 2-0 loss at the Boleyn Ground.
“He’s a great manager (Klopp), he’s a bit crazy,” he joked.
“He’s really hands on with all the players, individually goes and talks to me about what he thinks I need to work on and it’s to work on my defensive play, because he likes me going forward, so he’s got me to work on that (defensive play) really.
“It was a crazy season coming back to Liverpool, the manager took a liking in me and gave me a few chances, it’s going well but it’s a big club and naturally I’m not in the squad every week.
“He sat me down and told me that’s going to happen because of the big players there. Every chance I get, I’m enjoying it.”
With the recent time he has spent at the camp, Smith also feels like he is establishing a place in the squad and called out to Postecoglou to select him for their upcoming friendly against England away at Sundarland in May.
“I’m happy to be in camp, left-back is the part I’ve played, I’ve done well so I’ll see what happens for the next game,” he said.
“I’d really like to be involved in the England game, that would be pretty good, play a few of the boys at Liverpool and if we beat them, we give them a bit of stick.
“I spoke to Jordan Henderson, they were happy we got the game, it should be a good game.”
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