Andy Robertson On What Made Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool Special!

Sky Sports Premier League

Andy Robertson on his career and what made Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool special

Andy Robertson reflects on his journey from being released by Celtic to Liverpool glory and Scotland captaincy, explaining how Jurgen Klopp's belief, tactical demands and squad mentality shaped that Liverpool side. He also discusses the difference between the Covid title and winning with fans, Manchester City's mentality, and Tottenham's rebuild. His conclusion is that positional change, manager trust, learning and close relationships drove his career, and he still retains his love for the game.

► Subscribe to Sky Sports Premier League: https://bit.ly/SubscribeSkySportsPL ► Watch Sky Sports with NOW: https://bit.ly/NOWPremierLeagueYT Tottenham Hotspur and Scotland defender Andy Robertson sits down with Kelly Cates to look back on his career. He discusses his time as a youth player at Celtic, moving to England, and his glorious nine years at Liverpool where he won Champions League and Premier League titles. ‘The Pursuit' brought to you by Audi - the Official Innovation Partner of Sky Sports. premierleague football ► Premier League highlights: https://bit.ly/PL2627HL ► MNF, FNF, SNF & Super Sunday analysis: https://bit.ly/SkyMatchAnalysis ► Gary Neville Podcast: https://bit.ly/GaryNevillePodcast ► Saturday Social: https://bit.ly/SkySaturdaySocial ► Buy this season’s shirts: https://bit.ly/SkySportsShop More from Sky Sports on YouTube: ► Sky Sports: http://bit.ly/SkySportsSub ► Sky Sports Boxing: http://bit.ly/SSBoxingSub ► Sky Sports Cricket: http://bit.ly/SubscribeSkyCricket ► Sky Sports Darts: https://bit.ly/SubSkySportsDarts ► Sky Sports Football: http://bit.ly/SSFootballSub ► Sky Sports F1: http://bit.ly/SubscribeSkyF1 ► Sky Sports Golf: https://bit.ly/SubscribeSkySportsGolf ► Sky Sports News: http://bit.ly/SkySportsNewsSub ► Sky Sports Retro: http://bit.ly/SkySportsRetroSub ► Sky Sports WSL: https://bit.ly/SubscribeSkySportsWSL ► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkySportsFootball ► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skysportsfootball ► TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@skysportsfootball ► X: https://x.com/SkySportsPL ► Website: https://www.skysports.com ► To enquire about licensing Sky Sports content, you can find out more here: https://www.skysports.com/more-sports/news/31754/11434270/license-sky-sports-footage

Transcript

Welcome to the Pursuit, where the top performers in sport share what drives them. Brought to you by Audi, the official innovation partner of Sky Sports. Today we're joined by a player who has defied expectations. From being released at 15 to lifting the Premier League and Champions League trophies, he's Scotland captain. He's a Liverpool legend, and he's now beginning a new chapter of what's been an extraordinary career already. Andy Robertson, welcome to The Pursuit. >> Thank you very much. Was it always football? I mean, when you think about yourself as a as a kid, were you always kicking a ball around? >> Yeah, it was always it was always football for me. I think that was the only way my mom and dad could tire me out as far as I remember. Loved watching football, loved going to the football. It took over my life pretty pretty quickly. >> So, your childhood was playing it and watching football, just completely being immersed in it. What made you think you could make that your your career? I think everyone has the all kids have a dream of kind of making it your career. And I think a lot of people probably realize until it becomes like a serious actual thought that okay, it's not my career. You know, thankfully I didn't, you know, get to that point. I always thought it was realistic. Once you got signed with Celtic, I think I was maybe eight or nine. I thought, okay, well, you know, I'm at the biggest club in Scotland, the club that I support and things like that, and let's see where it where it takes me. But I also didn't think too far ahead, if you get me. I don't think I've ever done that in my career. I've always just kind of took things as they come. So, I think that probably helped me as well. >> What's it like going in as a boy to the club that you support and being part of that? And even things like seeing like the green and white everywhere and and seeing the Celtic badge and and knowing that that you're part of that. >> Oh, it was amazing. I always remember when the first day that you sign, you get like this big bag and it's got your tracksuits, it's got your training kit and all that and it's I mean it's like Christmas day really. like you're opening the bag and you've got probably say mom and dad a few quid as well to buy tracksuits and things like that. I always remember I don't know if they still do it but when we signed they used to give you like a DVD and you used to watch it and it was like welcoming you to the club and all that. I remember watching them all my family as a 9-year-old it's it's the best thing ever just knowing that you're kind of part of that club. It's pretty exciting. >> So you have that that grounding at at Celtic but then you get to to 15. Did you get a sense that that they might be releasing you or or thinking of not carrying on? I think it was about the end of March, start of April time I started thinking um because well, you know, you probably couldn't believe it now, but I was a central midfielder at Celtic. And then there was a kind of change in regime. There was new people coming in, new coaches and things like that just because there was a turnover after Tommy Burns passed away at Celtic. I then got moved to left mid and I'd never really played left mid before. So I kind of thought I'm not liking the look of this when it's coming to decision time. And then obviously the end of May the the decision came. So it didn't come as a huge surprise. It was still it's not nice to hear it. But yeah, I think if the couple of months hadn't happened before it, it would have probably hit me a lot. I would have been shocked a lot more. >> But football's brutal in that sense at that time when you've got kids who've got these huge dreams. Probably people aren't even physically developed yet and these huge decisions are being made on their behalf about their whole career. >> Yeah. And that's the thing and that's I think the older I've got now I'm like, you know, that's that's football. Unfortunately, it is ruthless at times. You don't feel like that at 15? >> No, not at 15. It's as if your world's kind of collapsed and obviously you know that it that hasn't, you know, the older you get, you look back on it and go, "Okay, well, it wasn't the worst of things." But at that time, it takes over your life. Of course, it does. Also, clubs have to make decisions. That's the first time they really make proper decisions. And um yeah, for me it didn't go my way, but uh I suppose if it didn't happen, you know, I might not be sat here today. >> Yeah. And you and you can look back and and have that perspective of all the success that you've you've had since. Was there a point where you thought that might be it? If they don't want me at 15, then there might not be a path for me. Were you already looking for for other clubs and other ways to get back in? I >> already looked at other clubs that season. It was probably the following season really when I was at my first year at Queens Park. That year I'd done a lot of kind of growing and development and things like that. And you know, obviously I wasn't great. That's you know, I can admit that. And I can say to >> What? As a player, you mean? >> As a player, yeah, I wasn't. Yeah. Yeah. Well, they I also played left mid at Queens Park. They coach it and I just didn't really suit me and I I was um yeah, I was pretty rubbish. I can I can I can I can definitely admit that now. >> Did you think it at the time? >> No, but at the end of that year, so with the way Queens Park worked was they done under 16s and then 17. So that's why it was perfect for me because it meant I wasn't playing against people older than me and things like that. But then under 17s, they had two teams >> because they got accepted into like the SPL of the youth or whatever. So they could play against Celtic Rangers. So that was the A team and then the B team had to play in the SFL with like the lower league teams and such like that. So I was in the second team when I got under 17. So I think that probably shows you that I wasn't, you know, I wasn't very good the season before and I was one of the older ones. That was the season that then I kind of shot off cuz I played left back and uh yeah, I don't think I look back from that moment. >> What was that like that positional change? And it's only it's not a huge one moving from left mid to to left back really in terms of you know how big a change that there could be. Did it just feel like that was your position? >> Yeah, I wanted to go there. It was me that wanted to go there. I think everyone that's even listening to this probably watched enough games of me now knowing that I don't have any skills up my up my sleeve. So >> but you you can't be a Premier League and Championship winner and not have skills. >> I've maybe got one step over. Maybe that's my best. So, as a left winger, I'm not sure I can uh I can quite get away from my >> Well, right. Maybe not a tricky winger. >> Exactly. I'm not a tricky winger. That's So, I always felt as if but I've always been a good runner. So, I always felt as if I was better coming from the game deep. You know, I believed it suited me better. I knew center mid probably wasn't quite my position at that point. Thankfully, the coaches then seen that and um yeah, the under 17s was a great season for me cuz I kind of then started taking over the the players that were in the A team and such. And I think by the end of that season, I played one or two games with the under 19. So I knew I was kind of well positioned at the at the club at that point. >> It's still quite young to have that self-awareness to be able to look at your own strengths and weaknesses and go this is what I can do. This is what I don't think I can do. It's a young age to have that. I don't I don't know whether it's it's confidence or just yeah self-awareness. >> I always just based it off and I still do like off enjoyment. When I played the game at left mid or left back, I know what one I enjoyed more. So I always kind of wanted it cuz you're going to get the best out of yourself if you enjoy it. So I think for me it was more that it wasn't I wouldn't say it was too much self-awareness or knowing that I can do this or can't do that. It was more just like okay when I play in that position. I really enjoy the games and then you know have a smile on my face and things like that. You know thankfully then the coaches obviously believed in me as well and they gave me my chance and obviously Queens Park were really good for me. >> When was the the tweet the one that gets shown everywhere the what is it? Life at this age is rubbish with no money. # need a job. When when was that? >> Sixth year at school. So I would just turned 18, I think. And I think it was around the time when obviously like um you know when you finish school you go on these holidays and all that nonsense and >> and probably you sort of you see your friends going out and enjoying themselves and at the same time you know that look I'm not suggesting that your social life was completely curtailed but but it is you can't live the way that in the same way that your friends are living. You've got to to give things up. No, that's a thing because obviously we had games on Saturday or Sunday. So you missed out on a Friday night or a Saturday night. That was the way you did it. You do miss out in things and things like that. But um obviously my my bank balance was restricted me at that point as well as so um no but thankfully we managed to make do managed to get even at Queens Park we managed to get a job um in Hamen and things like that and yeah that helped me out massively. So the move from from Queens Park to Dundy United and and the positional change that you're you're kind of still developing as a as a player. Was that time at Dundy United you think where you you kind of really started to work on on those skills and work on on what was needed? >> Yeah, 100%. I think my last year at Queens Park was big. So obviously I was in the first team and obviously that was the kind of year that um I did get the jobs in hand and stuff. So like that was massive for me. But the next year obviously I went to Dundy United and I'd effectively achieved my dream of becoming a professional footballer from very early doors. Even the first week I was like I don't want to give this up. I'm playing football every day. Um I mean I'm loving it. You know I could see the improvements week in week out that season was was so important for me. >> How was the move to Hull City and and Premier League football? How did you find that that change? >> I wasn't ready. I've only been one year pro. I'm not really ready. I remember when I was leaving Dundy United's training ground and the chairman went, "No, no, you're going." Because obviously the price was good for him. I think I went down to Glasgow. I met my agents and I had a 20-minute call with Steve Bruce and that just changed everything for me. He was the man that I kind of wanted to play for. He was um you know, so positive on the phone. He couldn't believe that I didn't think I was ready. He thought I was ready and things like that. And just having that belief in me. >> How much of of that in in the balance do you need for for yourself? that how much of the confidence comes from other people's belief in you like Steve Bruce and how much comes from from you? >> I've always needed you know the manager whatever to to believe I mean it's there's nothing better than than having a manager that gives you know that has your full trust. I always remember that the first night in Hull when we hadn't signed yet. We were sat in the hotel room. My mom and dad had came down for the signing day. they were next door to me and my dad never slept a wink cuz obviously the the wage from Hull to Dundy United was a bit of a difference and he thought I was going to make a bad decision cuz he thought I was going to head back up the road. So, you know, I'm so glad that he was the manager. He was a guy that wanted me and um yeah, Hull was really good for me as well. >> In a strange way, did the season in the championship help? Did it help you mentally and and just help you adjust? Do you think >> that was the most important season for me in terms of development and in terms of learning and you know I think I played the most minutes out the whole squad and the in the championship >> when we sit there and go it's really tough because you know the players are it's relentless in the championship and there's so many games they come thick and fast actually you loved it. >> I loved it. Yeah, I loved it because it was just game after game after game. And don't get me wrong, it gets, you know, tiring of driving up and down the country and, you know, you can be here one day and the next minute you're at the other side of the country. But for me, it was just so important because obviously the season before we were one of the favorites to go down from the Premier League and when we went to the Championship, all of a sudden we were the big team in the in the Championship where we kept a lot of our players and we dominated the ball and I could go forward and the other fullback could go forward. So, I really enjoyed the championship and obviously ended in a playoff final which is the best way to go up ever. >> It's almost like that's better than than winning the league in a way. People get a real rush from from going up through the the playoffs. Was it like that for you? Did you get that same kind of excitement? >> I think finishing first by maybe 20 points is a bit less stressful. We took the stressful way, but thankfully it all worked out. >> Yeah. I sometimes think it's because when you win any final, that's that's the end game. But when you win a playoff final, you're playing for the whole of the the next season as well. There's a lot more at stake when you when you do it. Is that why you backed yourself when Liverpool came calling? >> Probably similar to the chat with Steve Bruce. I mean, I went to Jurgens's house and, you know, I just kind of fell in love with him and fell in love with his ideas, you know, within that. After that meeting, he only wanted me as his left back. Obviously, I only wanted Liverpool. That's a no-brainer. But he then gave me the belief to try and go and be at one of the biggest clubs in the world because it's not easy, you know, going from hull that were got relegated to then come into a club that's expected to win trophies and things like that. It's a completely different mindset. So I think that's why the first couple of months were so important for me and stood me in goodstead and I just had to be patient and then when I got my chance then I knew I was ready to go and compete for for Liverpool. He speaks so highly of you, Jurgen, and particularly about that mindset. What does that look like daytoday? Like when you're going into into training, even when you're you're not training, when you're just at home, how does that change? >> Well, it can it takes over your life. Do you know what I mean? And that's in a good way. All of a sudden, when you go out and about and things like that, there's a lot more Liverpool fans than there was Hull fans. And that's no disrespect to Hull. Hell's got a great fan base, but Liverpool is worldwide has got, you know, millions and millions of followers. And when you bump into people and things are even on your day off and you're trying to maybe be a dad or a husband or whatever, you still get reminded that okay, I'm representing Liverpool. I'm still, you know, I mean, people are wanting pictures or people want to say hello. And in the training, it's as if we can't waste a minute, you know, we we can't waste a minute because we have to achieve things. We have to win things. We have to make our supporters happy. And that was the kind of mindset that I went into. I was lucky that I think Jurgen had maybe been there for maybe a year and a bit since when I went in, but already you could see that he was getting into the squad trying to help them with their mindset and they were already well on their way and then obviously I signed the same window as Mo and Ox I think and Domanki and then obviously Virgil came in the January and things like that. So we were starting to build a team that then could go and hopefully win the trophies. >> Yeah. and being in there at the at the start of that, at the start of everything that that Jurgen was was trying to build. When he described you, you said he he you he said he didn't like everything about you. He said, "I liked everything he did offensively, but I don't think I like anything about him defensively," which is I mean, that's pretty damning. >> Yeah, that's Yeah. And uh obviously with all my with all my leaving videos and that I got, you know, in the summer from Liverpool, uh I got like a a private one from like old players and staff I used to play with. And uh he said that again. Thanks for reminding me. He was used to a team that dominated the ball. He was used to a team that was front footed that wanted to go forward. I was used to when we gave the ball away probably retreating a little bit and coming back because it was also probably similar at Scotland, you know. So I had Scotland and Hull that we maybe defended a bit lower and things like that. So the first couple of months when I wasn't getting in squads and I was on the bench a lot and things like that that I was just learning day by day and I was making sure that I wasn't wasting any time that when he did give me the nod then I would be ready and I was just kind of waiting. I did get a bit impatient at time. I was kind of waiting and waiting and waiting for the nod. But thankfully it came and I do think once it did come then um I just I I just kind of repaid that faith >> because I think from the outside when you signed as you said you signed in a window in which there'd been much more expensive players coming in. There was a sense >> much more excitement. You can tell >> I wasn't going to say excited but but there was much more fuss about them. They were definitely there were the players who were kind of getting their faces splashed everywhere. We were talking about the business Liverpool had done in that that transfer window and there was maybe a perception from the outside that you might be coming in as a as a squad player or that there but but for you from the conversations that you had with Jurgen was it always the case that you were going to come in and and develop and that he wanted to to build you into his number one choice. >> I wouldn't say it's Bill mention up for grabs. The season before James Milner played there the whole season. um Alberto Moreno was coming back and they were trying to see if he could you know make it and and things like that. So I wasn't coming into position where it was like you know set in stone you know it wasn't as if like they had their left back and they were sticking with the left back cuz I think James Mner was definitely fed up with he was definitely fed up with left back by the end of that season and he wanted to move back into midfield and and things like that. So I then took that as okay well if I can do what I believe I can do and I can improve and I can get better then you know hopefully I become the starting left back at Liverpool and uh yeah thankfully it worked out that way. >> What did you do then to make sure that you did become the starting left back at Liverpool? >> I think the first couple of months I had to start believing that I was a Liverpool player. I was coming from a lot smaller club. Like you said there was not too much fuss made about me coming through the door. I don't think many of the fans were overly excited with my signing and things like Not disappointed. Not disappointed. Just gone under the radar. Maybe under the radar. The next two months was more about trying to learn how Jurgen wan