I am responsible for Liverpool’s ‘super-strange’ season – Klopp
I am responsible for Liverpool’s ‘super-strange’ season – Klopp
April 9, 2023
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has taken full responsibility for the team’s struggles this season, despite having a successful run last year.
The Reds won the EFL Cup and FA Cup, reached the Champions League final, and finished one point behind Manchester City in the Premier League. However, the team has already been knocked out of every cup competition this season and currently sits in eighth place in the Premier League.
“I’m sorry for our people, that they don’t have the season they wished for. But in the long term they will forget that,” Klopp told Sky Sports.
“I couldn’t care less what we did last year or the years before. I’m 100 per cent responsible for this rubbish and it’s really not cool.”
The German coach recently admitted his generally impeccable record with the club was probably the reason his job has not come into question and shared his appreciation for the support he and his team continue to receive from fans.
“I know everybody can express their emotions in an instant and there will be a lot of negative comments about us – I understand that,” he said. “But the people in the stadium are incredible.
“You see things happening at other clubs, not only sackings but teams against owners, fans against owners, fans against the team – I’ve seen it all.
“But if anyone can get through a situation like this in a classy manner, I really think it’s us as a club.”
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Klopp admitted that their points total this season is unacceptable, with just 43 points compared to the 99 they amassed last season. He acknowledged that the team’s fatigue from playing 63 games last season might be a contributing factor to their dip in form. However, he stressed that it was not an excuse for their current situation, and they still have ten games left to play.
“What you’ve seen this year is that a lot of teams that performed last year on an extremely high level are not exactly there,” Klopp added.
“Even City. Of course they play sensational football, but they don’t have the same points tally as last year [64, compared to 69 at the same stage in 2021-22].
“The intensity, at one point, gets you and maybe it caught us this year. But that is no excuse for the next 10 games.
“It may be an explanation for why we are not on our top level. We didn’t find a way to bring in consistent performances.”
The Liverpool manager believes that a lack of confidence and injuries have played a part in the team’s struggles this season. He also noted that other teams, including Manchester City, have seen their points totals regress this season, indicating the intense nature of the sport.
“World-class players are performing on a strange level,” he said. “It started with injuries and players coming back early, and we were never really settled in this season.
“We have to go through that and I have no problem with that. When I look back in 10 or 15 years this season will probably not be involved with highlights, but hopefully there’ll be a lot of things we can learn from it and can use next year.
“But we have to fight through this and this is tough. If it was easy they wouldn’t pay me that much money for it.
“We’ve had a super-strange season. We’ve had the two highest wins in our history but then a week later we cannot do it.”
He expressed his appreciation for the support he and his team continue to receive from fans, stating that Liverpool is a club that can get through a situation like this with dignity.
Klopp remains optimistic and sees this season as a learning opportunity for the team. He believes that they can use their experience to improve and do better next season. However, he emphasized that they have to fight through their current struggles, as it is not an easy task.
Liverpool faces Arsenal in their next Premier League game, hoping to turn their fortunes around and climb up the league table.
Despite their current struggles, Klopp is determined to help Liverpool achieve success and restore the club’s reputation as one of the top teams in the league.