Jurgen Klopp has described the FA Cup final as ‘special’ and has discussed how Liverpool will deal with the absence of Fabinho.
Liverpool will face Chelsea in the FA Cup final tomorrow evening but will do so without Fabinho, after the midfielder was substituted during the first half of Tuesday’s 2-1 win at Aston Villa.
Klopp provided an update on the fitness of the Brazil international and revealed he expects Fabinho to return in time for Liverpool’s Champions League final with Real Madrid on May 28.
“He will definitely be back for the Champions League final,” he told the media at his pre-match press conference.
“Before we will see, we don’t know. He is OK, he’s a professional. Obviously he’s not happy about it, that’s clear. But he took it, he’s absolutely OK.”
Liverpool have become the first team in history to reach the FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League final in the same season and the German discussed how his squad are managing with the workload of competing on multiple fronts.
Klopp praised the attitude of the Reds’ fringe players in training for their role in the club’s successes this season.
🗣 "The most important thing when you start new, is to qualify for the Champions League, that gives you the resources for making the next step."
Jurgen Klopp on why Liverpool have not been successful in the FA Cup in previous seasons under him pic.twitter.com/VzRpakVhso
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) May 13, 2022
“If these boys didn’t show the attitude they had in training all season then we had no chance of delivering the performances that we did this season,” he said.
“We might play 90 minutes, we might play 120 minutes. That will not change the kick-off time for the Southampton game (Tuesday) so we have to be ready for that game and make decisions.
“We have enough options at the moment. The job now is to find the right one.”
Liverpool will take part in the FA Cup final for the first time in a decade having progressed past the fifth round for the first time under Klopp.
The German has described the occasion as ‘special’ as the Reds look to win the competition for the first time since beating West Ham in 2006.
“When you go for three or four trophies, it’s clear you get it or you don’t,” he said.
“It’s a busy season, but it will never happen that the FA Cup is just a normal game.
“It’s a special game and for some of us the biggest in their career. We want to enjoy it and deliver it for our people.”
