Klopp: 'Unity is Liverpool's trophy this season'
"I feel, in a difficult year, the team still has unity between the players and the fans. That will be the driving force for us to continue," Klopp said on May 26 before the closing round of the Premier League. He meets Southampton. "When things are going in the right direction, it's easy to feel connected. Otherwise it's going to be more difficult. I don't want to prove that point, but we were really united, and for me, That's the title we won this year."
The top four positions of the Premier League and tickets to next season's Champions League have been determined before the final round. After Man City, Arsenal and Newcastle, Man Utd won the last ticket when they crushed Chelsea 4-1 in the round of 32 match on May 25. Liverpool are also certain to finish fifth when they are four points ahead of the second-placed club Brighton, and join the Europa League next season.
"This has not been a good season. We are not satisfied, because of many mistakes and lack of stability," continued Klopp. "But of course there are reasons to be optimistic. The atmosphere the players created in the last home game, the way the club said goodbye to the players who were leaving. All that. This is the foundation for a great future."
Klopp is not disappointed and sees finances as Liverpool's only problem in his absence from the Champions League. "But besides that, Liverpool still play in Europe. Instead of Tuesday-Wednesday, it's Thursday. Who cares?", the 55-year-old coach expressed. "It's still great games, the atmosphere, the chance to do it all. The FA Cup, the League Cup and the Premier League also take place. It's an opportunity for us to do it again."
After Man Utd beat Chelsea and won the last ticket to the Champions League on the evening of May 25, Mohamed Salah said he was "broken down" and the whole team had "no excuse" for this defeat. When asked about the Egypt star's reaction, Klopp replied: "It's completely normal, in the world of social media a lot of bad things happen and I don't think this is one of them. is the normal description of Liverpool's season, and Salah is right. But just an hour before this press conference, I saw Salah smiling and not in a bad mood."
Klopp believes the absence of the Champions League will not affect Liverpool's transfer work, although he admits the negotiation process could take longer. He stressed Liverpool are ready with a long break and pre-season time to prepare for next season. "In an ideal world, we would sign new players tomorrow and they would immediately come to the club. I can inform them about the summer break and other things. But like now. Everything will be fine now," Klopp said.
During his eight years at Liverpool, Klopp won the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, English Super Cup, Champions League, European Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. Europa League is the only title that the German coach is missing at Anfield. He helped Liverpool reach the final of the Europa League in 2016, but lost 1-3 to Sevilla in Basel, Switzerland.
