Demba Ba: We were the architects of Klopp's gegenpressing

TL;DR Former footballer Demba Ba has revealed that his team was the pioneer of the gegenpressing philosophy that Jurgen Klopp later made famous at Dortmund and Liverpool.

Key Points - Demba Ba states that his team were the architects of Klopp's 'rock-and-roll football'. - Klopp's high-octane style of play transformed football at both Dortmund and Liverpool. - The claim provides a new perspective on the origin of Klopp's iconic tactical identity.

What We Know According to FourFourTwo, Demba Ba revealed the origin of Klopp's success story, stating that his own team was the pioneer of the gegenpressing philosophy. The article highlights that Klopp's high-octane style of play would go on to transform football at Dortmund and Liverpool. The source is a feature article by Joe Mewis published on September 5, 2026.

Why It Matters This revelation adds a layer of historical context to Jurgen Klopp's legendary managerial career. It suggests that the tactical innovations Klopp popularized were not entirely his own invention, but were instead refined and built upon a foundation laid by others. This could shift the narrative around the origins of modern high-intensity football.

What Happens Next It is speculated that this claim may spark further discussions or debates among football analysts and Klopp's former colleagues regarding the true origins of gegenpressing. However, no official response or further action has been confirmed.