Manchester City is Liverpool s "brain": the two heroes behind the Klopp dynasty have been poached in a row!

Manchester City's "silent revolution" behind the scenes continues. They have reportedly appointed Liverpool senior rival analyst James French as a special coach and analyst for set pieces. French has joined Liverpool since the Rodgers era in 2012, spanning the two coaches of Klopp and Slott, and has been the cornerstone of the club's analysis department.

His departure is only weeks after Liverpool celebrates its first Premier League title in the Slot era. "He has bid farewell to Anfield staff after the recent Premier League championship celebrations." This opportunity adds a bit of bitterness to the Reds fans who have just adapted to the post-Klopp era.

has far exceeded symbolism, and its substantial impact is significant

France's transfer is not only symbolic, but also about substance. He will reunite with former Liverpool assistant Linders, who is about to become Guardiola's new right-hand man at the Etihad Stadium. As the second-person in Liverpool's most glorious period in modern times, Linders "helps the team win the Premier League, the Champions League, the Club World Cup, the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup (twice)", and his influence is of great importance.

Guardiola seeks innovation through "familiar faces"

Guardiola's latest behind-the-scenes team reorganization, accompanied by the departure of Juanma Lelo, Carlos Vessenz and Inigor Dominguez. Instead of choosing to promote or recruit new players internally, he turned to rival clubs for innovation.

Despite Linders's coaching experience at Red Bull Salzburg was disappointing (he was fired only seven months after taking office... 10 points behind the top team Graz Storm), Guardiola decided to introduce him, indicating that Guardiola values ​​tactical intelligence and understanding of the top system rather than recent results. Previously, Norwich City and Portugal also had interest in Lindes.

Manchester City's strategy: Copying DNA successfully

Manchester City's pursuit of Liverpool talents is not only out of appreciation, but also a strategic move. These people are the heroes behind helping to build one of the most competitive teams in modern times, and now they are shouldering the heavy responsibility of maintaining the peak of the Gua dynasty. This is equivalent to acknowledging that Manchester City’s dynasty needs to evolve, even at the cost of imitating the success genes of their most lasting challengers.

The specialization of set pieces reflects the general trend of football

France will specialize in set pieces, which deeply reflects the development direction of top football. The competition for subtle advantages and highly specialized division of labor have never been more important. Linders provides macro-tactic inputs, French carves details, and Manchester City is also working on the art and science of modern football.

Although the roles are different, the core information is clear. Guardiola needs thinkers, not just trainers. He is building a coaching team that understands data, psychology, competition situations and the strict requirements of winning the championship. French fits this perfectly.

Slott faces challenges with Liverpool

For Slott, this is another challenge during his term of Liverpool. The Dutch coach led the team to win the championship just in his first season, but now he has to face a reality: the system built by Klopp's team is being coveted by his opponents. It is not easy to replace French with a talent who is experienced and well versed in the club's internal operations, especially when facing pressure from the Champions League and domestic dual-line in the new season.

This matter also raised questions about Liverpool's non-player employee retention strategy. Although Edwards has returned to serve as an executive and there have been changes in the recruitment department, French's departure may only be part of a larger restructuring, and Manchester City's poaching still seems extremely opportunistic.

Our view

Liverpool fans have been used to being poached by top players by their opponents, but now, the "architects" behind the scenes have also become the targets to be hunted. James French may not be a household name, but his departure was a heavy blow to those who are concerned about football analysis.

This is also full of irony. Liverpool just regained the Premier League championship and proved that it could return to the top competition. However, Manchester City, a team that is often criticized for its money-burning habit, is poaching the think tank that helps Liverpool reach the top. They not only dug one, but they were simply going to build an "Anfield branch" next to Etihad's coaching seat.

For Slott, this is a critical moment. Can he replace these key roles with someone of equal ability? Or will Liverpool start to see cracks behind the scenes when they need stability the most?