Yussuf Poulsen: "You have to admire good football"

Klopp's Dortmund won two Bundesliga titles, the DFB Cup and two German Supercups during a seven-year tenure characterised by hard-hitting attacking play.

The former Mainz boss has continued his fine work at English Premier League outfit Liverpool, reaching the 2017/18 UEFA Champions League final before winning the competition last season.

Poulsen is yet to face a Klopp team, but the Denmark international is a fan.

"I really like Jürgen Klopp's style of football," he told DAZN. "It's just fantastic. You don't have to be a Liverpool fan to acknowledge that.

"It was the same with Barcelona's tiki-taka from a few years ago. You just have to enjoy this kind of football."

Poulsen has been a key component in Leipzig's own take on the beautiful game down the years. The Dane has accompanied Die Roten Bullen all the way from the third division to the Bundesliga and beyond, spearheading an ambitious ensemble famed for their own lightning-quick transitions.

Poulsen enjoyed a career-best return of 15 Bundesliga goals and four assists as Leipzig finished the 2018/19 Bundesliga campaign in third, qualifying for the Champions League group stage for the second time in three years.

He struck five and four times in his previous two seasons in the Bundesliga, but rather than improving a particular aspect of his game, the 25-year-old says his off-field work with a sports psychologist is behind his notable upswing in front of goal.

"I improved the technical side of my game the season before last, but the main thing I improved last year was the psychological side," said Poulsen.

"A lot of my club and international teammates recommended I work with a sports psychologist. I gave it a go, and it's working a treat!

"I told my coach how I see myself as a player and a person. We both agreed I'm a leader and we're working on how to make the most of those traits, but I'm getting to know myself better all the time."

Watch: The Yussuf Poulsen story

As well as himself, Poulsen is also getting better acquainted with new Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann. The Bundesliga's youngest ever tactician recently joined the club from Hoffenheim, where he forged a reputation as one of football's most exciting innovators.

Understandably, Poulsen is taking his time to digest the 32-year-old's methods.

"There's a lot to take in," he told German daily, Bild. "All the drills are new, and they take some getting used to. He gives you a lot to think about, but I'm enjoying it and I'm looking forward to the new season.

"I always set myself big goals, and my objective is to score as many goals as possible. If I score 20 in the Bundesliga, but none in the Champions League - or vice versa - I'll have done my bit to help the team."

Poulsen's first hurdle of the new campaign is a DFB Cup first-round meeting with Bundesliga 2 club VfL Osnabrück (11 August). Leipzig travel to Bundesliga newcomers Union Berlin a week later, with Champions League football to follow in September.

Leipzig did not make it beyond the group stage in their first tilt at the competition two years ago, but Poulsen is quietly confident his side can reach the knockouts at the second attempt.

"We're all better than we were two years ago, it's that simple," he affirmed. "Every player has improved, so we're ready for the challenge!"