Jupp Heynckes has offered his former rival Jurgen Klopp some comfort as Borussia Dortmund sit bottom of the Bundesliga, telling him that "every great coach has gone through stormy and difficult times."
In Dortmund's title-winning years in 2011 and 2012, Heynckes twice finished second: in the first year, his Bayer Leverkusen side were pipped by Klopp's XI; the following year, BVB secured the domestic double with Bayern Munich finishing runners-up in both competitions.
Heynckes reversed roles in his final year as a coach, winning the treble with Bayern. Dortmund were runners-up in both the league and the Champions League, while in the German Cup they suffered a defeat in the quarterfinal at the Allianz Arena.
Klopp's side have qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League this term but at bottom of the domestic standings with just 11 points from 13 games.
In a column for German football magazine kicker, Heynckes has now backed Klopp to lead Dortmund out of their current crisis and come back stronger.
"All great coaches needed to go through difficult and stormy times, like [those] experienced by Jurgen Klopp now," the coaching legend wrote.
"Personally, I am reminded of the 2011-2012 season when [they] finished runners-up in three competitions with Bayern."
He urged the club and especially the coach to remain calm, and to not forget what they have created in Dortmund in recent years.
"Klopp will come out stronger of this wayward first half of the season," he continued. "I have always been convinced of my work, and I'd like to think that he's also convinced of his work.
"I can't spot a lack of confidence. And the players also need to believe in themselves again. Good Lord, it's not like they can't play football."
But as things stand, BVB take on Hoffenheim on Friday sitting at the foot of the Bundesliga standings. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Klopp said that it is now time to face reality and accept the relegation battle they are in.
"We still feel a kind of footballing disappointment when something doesn't come off. In a relegation battle you don't need seven chances, just the one," he told BVB's official website. "It's not about playing the greatest game of all time, but to be successful. That requires a solid defensive performance, and in attack we'll get chances anyway."
Klopp got relegated in his first coaching role with Mainz in 2007, but other than that he has avoided the drop throughout his career.
"I know what a relegation battle feels like," he said. "And I've survived 98 percent of all my relegation battles, so I can pass on my experience."
Hinting at possible changes in the starting formation, he added: "As the coach I have to find out who can take the pressure and respond accordingly. That requires playing resources slowly becoming available again.
"Friday night is high noon; we have to play football."