Jurgen Klopp insists there are ‘reasons for optimism’ at Liverpool despite an absence of Champions League football next season.
Liverpool have missed out on Champions League football after Manchester United’s 4-1 win over Chelsea consigned the Reds to a fifth place finish in the Premier League.
It has been a disappointing campaign for Klopp’s side, who challenged on all four fronts and won a domestic cup double during the 2021/22 season.
Klopp admitted the season has not gone as planned at Liverpool, who face Southampton on the final day, but believes improvement over the second half of the campaign means there is reason for optimism at Anfield.
“This season has not been historically good. But since we had training in Dubai since the World Cup, not everything has been perfect but the points we collected have been good,” he told his pre-match press conference.
“If we could have done that all season, we’d be in a different place. So, of course there are reasons for optimism.
“The atmosphere our people created in the last home game, the way the club said farewell to the players who are leaving the day after, all of these things are the basis for a fantastic future.”
Klopp discussed the impact of Liverpool’s absence from the Champions League, but doesn’t believe the club’s failure to quality will affect transfer plans.
“I don’t think so but you never know. It is always possible and probably likely that things won’t go as big as you want because the better the player, the less the desire of the club is to let him go. We are prepared for that.”
Mohamed Salah expressed his disappointment at Liverpool’s failure this season on social media and Klopp was asked for his view on the Egyptian’s comments. The Liverpool manager believes Salah’s post was a ‘normal’ response to the club’s season.
🗣️ Mohamed Salah has said he is ‘devastated’ after Liverpool missed out on Champions League qualification and admits the side ‘failed’ this season. pic.twitter.com/MxSPmBtPs5
— The Football Faithful (@FootyFaithfuI) May 26, 2023
“I read it. I’m worried about the headlines I’ll create with the things I say,” he said.
“After the last game when it was clear [Man Utd and Newcastle] needed a point, I knew they would get it. I drew a line.
“I’m an optimistic person but at that moment I couldn’t see it. If it would have happened we would have gone for it. In the world of social media, so many bad things happen but that wasn’t one of them. It was a normal description of his situation. I just saw him in the canteen and he is smiling; I didn’t ask him why, but that is his mood.”
