Chapter 2: Setting the Standard
As Azim and Klopp led the directors and staff toward the training pitch, the energy was palpable. The players followed closely behind, and the media team was already stationed at the edges of the field, their equipment ready to capture the drills for Liverpool's new digital platforms. It was part of the new strategy—bringing fans closer to the team's daily routines. But today's 11v11 scrimmage would remain under wraps. The world would have to wait to see the full force of the new Liverpool.
Azim discreetly adjusted the new players' stats through the Football System as they walked. He increased the speed, awareness, and tactical vision of the newcomers—Salah, Mané, De Bruyne, Pogba, Kanté, Van Dijk, Koulibaly, Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and De Gea—while also boosting their fitness levels. This was key to implementing Klopp's gegenpressing philosophy, which demanded that players win the ball back within seconds of losing possession.
Klopp's instructions were sharp as he clapped his hands, drawing attention from the players already warming up on the field. "Alright, lads! The drills come first. Passing and movement, quick transitions, high intensity. You know how it works—no passengers, no slowing down. Get ready to work!"
The media team began filming as the players moved into their passing groups. The passing and movement drill was at the heart of Klopp's style. Players had to pass the ball in tight triangles, always on the move, always looking for space, ready to receive the ball or apply pressure if it was lost.
Azim watched closely as the players fell into rhythm. Salah and Mané were lightning-quick, darting around defenders and showing the tight control that made them dangerous in wide spaces. De Bruyne's passes were pinpoint, finding players in pockets of space that others would have missed. Pogba's physical presence was felt immediately, his vision linking up play between the lines, while Kanté was an absolute force, cutting off passing lanes with his tireless work rate.
Azim couldn't help but feel a sense of pride watching his vision come to life. With the new stats in place, the players were performing at an elite level, seamlessly blending Klopp's tactics with their own natural talents.
Pep Lijnders, Klopp's assistant, approached Azim as the media filmed the players. "They're starting to look like a unit," he remarked, his eyes scanning the drill. "But I've noticed you've kept the 11v11 match private. Smart move. Let the world see them during the friendlies."
Azim nodded. "Exactly. We'll keep that a secret for now. Let the fans see what we've built when it really matters."
After the drills ended, Klopp gathered the team for the final part of the session—an 11v11 scrimmage. But unlike the drills, this would not be filmed. The cameras were turned off, the drones grounded, and the media team ushered off the field. This part of training would remain hidden from the public, a rehearsal for what was to come.
The players split into two teams: on one side, the new arrivals—Azim, Salah, Mané, De Bruyne, Pogba, Kanté, Van Dijk, Koulibaly, Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and De Gea—forming a formidable starting XI. On the other side, the veterans—Gerrard, Coutinho, Henderson, Sterling, Sturridge, Sakho, and Mignolet, bolstered by a few reserves.
The intensity was evident from the first whistle. Klopp's tactics were clear: aggressive pressing, quick transitions, and an emphasis on winning the ball back as quickly as possible. It was pure gegenpressing—a style Klopp had perfected over the years, and now it was time to test it with his newly assembled squad.
Within minutes, the new arrivals began to impose their style. Azim, playing as the central striker, immediately made his presence felt. His movement off the ball was relentless, dragging defenders out of position and creating space for his teammates. De Bruyne found pockets of space in the midfield, constantly feeding the ball to the wide players, while Pogba dominated the center with his physicality and flair.
The veterans struggled to contain the intensity. Every time they lost possession, the gegenpress kicked in. Salah, Mané, and Azim led the charge, hunting the ball down in packs, while Kanté and Pogba closed down passing lanes in midfield. It was suffocating. Gerrard and Henderson tried to organize the veteran side, but the pressure was relentless.
In the 10th minute, De Bruyne intercepted a loose pass from Sakho, immediately triggering a fast counterattack. De Bruyne's pass found Salah, who darted past two defenders before squaring the ball to Azim. Without hesitating, Azim struck a powerful shot into the bottom corner—1-0.
The veterans regrouped, but the new team's press was too much. In the 17th minute, the veterans tried to play out from the back, but Kanté's quick interception and tireless running caught them off guard. He slid the ball to Mané, who danced around his marker before chipping a cross into the box. Azim, reading the play perfectly, made a run between the center-backs and met the ball with a header that flew past Mignolet—2-0.
Klopp was shouting encouragement from the sidelines, his excitement building as his vision unfolded on the pitch. The veterans had experience, but this new Liverpool team was operating on a different level—sharp, quick, and relentless.
But the veterans weren't ready to give up. Gerrard, ever the leader, drove his team forward. In the 25th minute, a moment of magic from Coutinho brought the veterans back into the game. His dribbling skills weaved through the pressing lines, and his quick pass found Sterling in space. Sterling surged forward and slipped the ball to Sturridge, who managed to squeeze a shot past De Gea—2-1.
The match continued with fierce intensity. The veterans, bolstered by their goal, applied more pressure, but the gegenpress from the new arrivals was nearly flawless. Every time they lost possession, the team swarmed around the ball, not giving the veterans a moment to breathe.
In the 35th minute, Azim's defensive instincts kicked in. Sakho, trying to play a long ball, had his pass intercepted by Azim, who had dropped deep to help press. He immediately launched a counterattack, driving forward and finding Salah on the right. Salah sprinted down the flank before cutting inside and releasing a perfectly weighted through ball back to Azim. Azim finished the move with a cool side-footed shot into the far corner—3-1.
The game continued at a frenetic pace, with the new team pressing high and recovering the ball with ease. Klopp's system was working to perfection. The veterans, though skilled and experienced, couldn't handle the intensity. Henderson tried to rally his side, but the press was overwhelming.
By the 60th minute, the score was 4-1. Pogba had added another goal, this time from a quick counterattack where he drove into the box after a precise pass from De Bruyne. The veterans looked tired, their legs heavy from chasing the ball, while the new arrivals seemed to grow stronger with every passing minute.
Azim, at the heart of the attack, continued to lead the line. His interceptions, pressing, and ability to drop deep when needed made him the key figure in the match. Every time the veterans tried to build from the back, Azim was there, cutting off their options and forcing them into mistakes.
The final goal came in the 75th minute. After another wave of pressing, Van Dijk intercepted a long ball from Gerrard and played it forward quickly to Pogba, who found Mané racing down the left flank. Mané's cross was met by Azim at the far post, who calmly tapped in his fourth goal of the match—5-1.
Klopp blew the whistle, ending the match.
As the scrimmage concluded, the players gathered in the center of the pitch, catching their breath. Klopp clapped his hands together, signaling the end of the session. The high press, quick transitions, and ruthless finishing had shown exactly what Azim had envisioned—a new, relentless Liverpool FC. But there was more to come, and Azim had already set the next plan in motion.
As the players began to head off the pitch, Klopp approached Azim, joined by a few of Liverpool's directors.
"That was some intensity out there," Klopp said, wiping the sweat from his brow but grinning. "The team's starting to get it. This is what we need—every training session, every match."
Azim nodded, knowing there was another challenge waiting to test the squad. "I've been thinking, Jürgen," he said, turning to Klopp and the directors. "We've got a series of preseason friendlies coming up, but I want to set the bar higher. I'm talking about the best clubs in Europe, the ones that dominate the scene."
Klopp raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Go on."
Azim's tone sharpened. "We bring PSG, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid to Anfield. Those are the clubs that set the standard in European football. PSG dominated Ligue 1, Bayern crushed the Bundesliga, and Real Madrid—well, they're the reigning Champions League winners. If we want to prepare this squad for the highest level, these are the teams we need to face."
John Morley, one of the directors, glanced at Azim with interest. "Bringing in clubs of that caliber won't come cheap. We're talking significant payouts to get them to play preseason friendlies at Anfield."
Azim smiled, already anticipating the hesitation. "We'll pay whatever it takes. This is an investment, and trust me, the fans will want to see these matches. Anfield, packed to the rafters, witnessing Liverpool going toe-to-toe with the best clubs in Europe—it's exactly what we need to announce ourselves as serious contenders."
Klopp grinned widely. "Now you're talking, lad. We can't hide in the shadows if we want to be the best. If we're going to win trophies, we have to face the best, even in preseason."
Another director, Emily Price, nodded in agreement, though cautious. "It's a bold move, but pulling off friendlies against PSG, Bayern, and Real Madrid would certainly make a statement. It'll cost us, but it'll also show the world that Liverpool FC is back and ready for the top."
Azim looked at Klopp. "You'll have the team ready by July. These matches won't just be friendlies. We treat them like the real thing."
Klopp's grin widened. "I'll make sure of it. The lads will be prepared. It'll be a perfect test for them and a perfect stage to showcase what this team can do."
Morley nodded. "Alright, let's start reaching out to PSG, Bayern, and Real Madrid. Let's get the numbers and logistics worked out. If we're going to make this happen, we need to start planning now."
Azim felt a surge of satisfaction. He knew that bringing these top clubs to Anfield would be costly, but it was a small price to pay for what it would achieve. The world would see the new Liverpool, and they would know that this wasn't just a club rebuilding—it was a club on the rise to dominate.
The directors left the pitch, already making calls and sending emails to set up the monumental fixtures. Meanwhile, Klopp and Azim remained on the field, surveying the players who were winding down from the session.
"We'll pay a lot of money to get those teams here, but it'll be worth it," Azim said, turning back to Klopp.
Klopp chuckled. "Money's one thing. But what we're building? That's something no amount of money can buy."
Azim nodded. "Exactly. This is about legacy."