---
title: "Liverpool: Thomas Gronnemark highly complimentary of Jurgen Klopp’s communication skills"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liverpool-thomas-gronnemark-highly-complimentary-of-jurgen-klopps-communication-skills/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "Liverpool Football Club"
published: "2019-10-09T20:45:21Z"
modified: "2019-10-09T20:45:21Z"
---

# Liverpool: Thomas Gronnemark highly complimentary of Jurgen Klopp’s communication skills

**Liverpool coaching staff member Thomas Gronnemark has commended Jurgen Klopp’s communication skills as one of his “[biggest strengths](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/exclusive-liverpool-backroom-staff-reveal-17044741)” and dubbed him a “[very good relationship builder](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/exclusive-liverpool-backroom-staff-reveal-17044741)“.**

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Speaking exclusively to the [Liverpool Echo](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/exclusive-liverpool-backroom-staff-reveal-17044741), the club’s throw-in coach also said that the first team manager is very open to such specialist coaching staff who can add expertise to certain aspects of Liverpool’s play.

Gronnemark told the [Liverpool Echo](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/exclusive-liverpool-backroom-staff-reveal-17044741): “Jurgen is very good at saying: ‘Hey! We can improve here…I don’t know everything’ and it was the same with me and the throw-ins.

“He said to me that he tried to do something with the throw-ins but it didn’t work, so I think that is one of his very big strengths that he is listening to people who know a lot about the things that Klopp can improve.”

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

When Klopp [hired Gronnemark to be Liverpool’s throw-in coach](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jurgen-klopps-ridiculed-decision-proven-16907077) in August 2018, TV pundit Andy Gray ridiculed the appointment, telling [beIN Sports](https://twitter.com/beINSPORTS/status/1035849020655067137?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1035849020655067137&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.joe.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fliverpool-throw-in-types-198037): “I’ll tell you what, I’m officially a throw in coach and I’m also going to some clubs later this month to teach them how to kick off. I want to be the first kick-off coach.”

However, Liverpool’s significant improvement in this part of their play has justified Klopp’s decision to appoint Gronnemark as a specialist throw-in coach.

Research from [Tifo Football](https://www.tifofootball.com/video/should-we-get-rid-of-throw-ins-in-football/) showed that, in the 2017/18 season, Liverpool ball retention rate from throw-ins was 45.4%, the third worst in the Premier League; while they had 51.8% possession loss from throw-ins, which was higher than the divisional average.

Following Gronnemark’s appointment, the Reds’ retention rate from throw-ins jumped up to 68.4%, the second highest of all recorded European leagues behind FC Midtjylland, with whom he is also involved. \[[via Tifo Football](https://www.tifofootball.com/video/should-we-get-rid-of-throw-ins-in-football/)\]

According to [Tifo Football](https://www.tifofootball.com/video/should-we-get-rid-of-throw-ins-in-football/), Gronnemark has emphasised the importance of ‘fast’ and ‘clever’ throw-ins to make it harder for the opposition to win the ball from this type of play.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

The results that Gronnemark has delivered in improving Liverpool’s ball retention from throw-ins have been staggering.

This also reflects well on Klopp, who identified a weakness in his coaching and sought a specialist in that area to improve it, something that Gronnemark has done dramatically.

This is a testament to Klopp’s determination to improve every possible aspect of Liverpool’s play and, with the Reds winning last season’s Champions League and topping the Premier League with a [100% record eight games into the current campaign](https://www.premierleague.com/tables?co=1&se=210&ha=-1), the apparent marginal gains of improving ball retention from throw-ins seem to have contributed to significant improvement in terms of overall results for the Reds.

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***Liverpool fans, how important do you think Gronnemark’s work has been to the Reds’ fortunes over the last year? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below!***