David Wagner involves Jurgen Klopp in detailed play-off preparations

THE pair have famously been best mates since the early Nineties and David Wagner was best man at Jurgen Klopp's wedding.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, left, with Huddersfield Town head coach David Wagner before last July's pre-season friendly at John Smith's Stadium (Picture: Dave Howarth/PA Wire).Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, left, with Huddersfield Town head coach David Wagner before last July's pre-season friendly at John Smith's Stadium (Picture: Dave Howarth/PA Wire).
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, left, with Huddersfield Town head coach David Wagner before last July's pre-season friendly at John Smith's Stadium (Picture: Dave Howarth/PA Wire).

So, head coach Wagner’s admission yesterday that he had picked the brain of the Liverpool manager ahead of Huddersfield Town’s play-off semi-final double-header against Sheffield Wednesday did not come as a surprise.

“We spoke earlier by phone and, of course, he wished us all the best for the play-offs,” said Wagner after taking a break from preparations for Sunday’s first leg at the John Smith’s Stadium.

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“I have spoken with him about the experience he has in two legged games from the Champions League and the Europa League. The details will be what makes the difference in this tie.”

Wagner’s desire to leave no stone unturned in his quest to keep Huddersfield on course for a top-flight return after 45 years is also no surprise. Since arriving in England 18 months ago, the German has made light of the huge disparity in resources between Town and most of their Championship peers.

Strong management ideals, attention to detail and an ability to wring that little bit extra from a squad put together at a fraction of what every other club in the play-offs has spent is what has driven the Terriers to within touching distance of the Premier League.

“There will be no surprises on both sides,” said Wagner ahead of what will be only the third all-Yorkshire semi-final since the advent of the play-offs 30 years ago.

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“We are totally aware about Sheffield Wednesday, about Carlos (Carvalhal)’s side and his ideas. The details will be what makes the difference, concentration being very, very important along with our focus on ourselves.”

For Wagner, the offer to take charge of Huddersfield in the wake of Chris Powell’s departure came out of the blue.

He had been working with Klopp for the previous four years, running Borussia Dortmund’s second team with great success, and his next move was expected to be a reunion with his friend on Merseyside.

Then, though, the Yorkshire club got in touch and a vision for the future was outlined.

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Whether this included Huddersfield being in such a promising position just 18 months on is something only Wagner and Stuart Webber, then head of football operations at the John Smith’s, know.

But, as Town prepare to take part in the play-offs for a ninth time – only Preston North End with ten have featured in more – the 45-year-old German is in no doubt as to just how important the next few games are going to be.

“No one expected us to be involved at the start of the season,” he added. “That is why we are really able to enjoy it. We are humble but we are still ambitious.”

Asked by The Yorkshire Post if these represented the biggest two games of his career, former United States international Wagner replied: “As a manager? Yes. I played some big games as a player for America or the (UEFA Cup) semi-final with Schalke (in 1997).

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“As a manager, I did have a very big game with Dortmund second team, when we got promoted. We had to win the last game of the season and we did that 5-3. That was the biggest in my managerial career so far, but these are the biggest games since I arrived in Huddersfield.”

Wagner’s impressive work in West Yorkshire has alerted clubs all over Europe to his talents.

Links with Norwich City and Middlesbrough have recently been made, while just a couple of days ago a return to former club Dortmund was touted in the German press.

The man himself, however, remains unmoved by all the speculation as he prepares for the double-header against Wednesday.

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“This is not the first speculation about me and I am still here,” said the Huddersfield chief.

“It doesn’t really bother me. I have the two biggest games in 45 years for this club in front of me, everything else is totally irrelevant. I am only focused on these two matches.”