Jurgen Klopp makes Europa League admission as Liverpool’s Champions League hopes evaporate
Jurgen Klopp has acknowledged that Liverpool’s qualification for the next season’s Champions League is not justified, as their chances of finishing in the top four were virtually eliminated by Aston Villa.
In his last game as a Liverpool player, Roberto Firmino scored a late equalizer, securing a draw and keeping Liverpool’s slim hopes alive on paper.
Nevertheless, for Liverpool to have a chance, both Newcastle United and Manchester United needed to lose their final two matches while Liverpool won their last game against Southampton.
Following the draw against Aston Villa, Klopp openly expressed his anticipation for the upcoming season and conceded that Liverpool did not deserve to secure a top-four finish.
“I think the whole season is a season where we qualify for the Europa League and not for Champions League,” he told reporters. “We were too long not good enough or ourselves.
“I think we made it pretty exciting. I didn’t think that was possible seven weeks ago. The boys did really well in that period.
“I think our people enjoyed it as well. You could see today they were not angry with us, looking forward to a new Premier League season and Europa League season, and so do I, though we still have a game to play.”
Additionally, Klopp acknowledged that Liverpool’s performance in the first half against Aston Villa fell short of their expectations. He explained how his team managed to stage a comeback and secure a draw, emphasizing their determination and resilience.
“First there is a super important game,” he said, referencing to the post-match send-off afforded to Firmino and another Reds departees James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. “This part of the day (the game) was, first half, not great, I would say.
“We were too much in a rush. And in both departments, with the ball without the ball. Our pressing was not good. You could see what we want but the timing was, wow. Who was where? That was not helpful.
“We played in their hands. They had their moments in the game and are a good team, obviously. They get the penalty, score their goal.
“It was clear in the second half we have to calm down. Increase the pressure but calm down the right areas. That’s what we did.
“You could see the game was super intense as well. They were really done in the second half, so we could create our moments.
“We scored a goal which was disallowed and scored a goal which was allowed so it is a draw and that is okay.”
Jurgen Klopp makes Europa League admission as Liverpool’s Champions League hopes evaporate
