Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp admits he was a firm fan of Bordeaux coach Willy Sagnol as a player, but joked tomorrow evening will see whether a former world-class full-back or a former non-league full-back came come out on top in the managerial stakes.
Klopp played as a defender in his native Germany while Sagnol was also in the country, starring for powerhouses Bayern Munich; the Liverpool boss was at Mainz.
Sagnol turned out for the Bavarians between 2000 and 2009 and enjoyed huge success. The Frenchman picked up five Bundesliga titles, one Champions League and four German Cups.
Now he is in charge of Bordeaux and will lock horns with Klopp's Liverpool in the Europa League tomorrow evening.
Klopp was asked at a press conference for his view on Sagnol's managerial career and whether the Frenchman is applying some of what he learned in German football.
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"Willy Sagnol was one of the best full-backs I ever saw, for sure, and he played kind of a German style, whatever that is", Klopp said.
"I know him better as a player than as a manager and to be honest, I have not seen too much of Bordeaux. When I knew we'd play them, I watched much more.
"He was a world-class full-back, I was a non-league [second division] full-back. We will see what worked better."
Liverpool know victory against Bordeaux would book a spot in the Europa League last 32, however were the French side to take all three points then the group would be up in the air ahead of the final match day.
The earlier game between the two teams finished as a draw in France, when Brendan Rodgers was in charge of Liverpool.
