“I’m not smart enough to try two things at the same time,” says Klopp
After 2-0 in the first leg, everything points to Liverpool moving into the final of the Champions League. Nevertheless, Jürgen Klopp warns of Villarreal
Which: REUTERS
After the sovereign 2-0 in the first leg, moving into the final of the Champions League for Liverpool FC seems to be just a matter of form. Nevertheless, Jürgen Klopp warns against FC Villarreal. He is said to not be thinking about a historic season yet.
Ssix Champions League titles. 19 English championships. In addition, there are three Uefa Cups, now known as the Europa League, and seven national FA Cups: there is hardly any other club museum in the world that has as many trophies on display as Liverpool FC’s. This spring, however, German coach Jürgen Klopp and his team can do something that none of the countless club legends, from Bill Shankly to Kenny Dalglish, have been able to do since the club was founded on March 15, 1892: win four titles in just one season.
The Champions League semi-final at FC Villarreal this Tuesday evening (9 p.m., in the WELT sports ticker) is the next hurdle on this path. After the remarkably one-sided 2-0 win in the first leg, it is no longer as high as a possible final against Real Madrid or Manchester City, or the task of catching Manchester City in the last four Premier League matchdays or the English Cup to win the final against Chelsea.
Despite the sovereign success in the first leg, which could well have been two goals higher, Klopp warned of a “dangerous result” and the great challenge of constantly jumping from one competition to the next.
“I’m not smart enough to try two things at the same time,” he said – so focus on the next game and look forward to the prospect of multiple titles. “It’s a good situation for us. But the number of games we still have to play is very high. With or without the Champions League final: It’s a lot for us. So it’s better if we win every game, otherwise it could be difficult.” Liverpool won the final of the English League Cup against Chelsea at the end of February.
Klopp gives Liverpool consistency
To appreciate the value of Klopp’s work, look back to his first day at Liverpool in October 2015. “Please give us time to work. But I think: If I’m sitting here in four years, maybe we’ll have a title,” said the coach at his first press conference.
The 54-year-old took over the club in tenth place in the Premier League. Since then, the following have been added: the 2018 Champions League final, the 2019 Champions League win, the 2020 English championship and the Club World Cup in the same year. “He’s a manager I would have loved to have played under,” said former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler.
Klopp’s merit is that he has built up a team that has demonstrated stability and automatism at the highest level over the years. Since his first full season in 2016/17, he has averaged more than 83 points per season with Liverpool FC in the strongest and most challenging league in the world. FC Bayern Munich was unable to maintain its high level after the 2020 Champions League success. Klopp’s current team, on the other hand, seems to be even stronger than in the 2019 Champions League triumph.
Thiago assumes leadership role
One reason for this is the player who moved from Bayern to Liverpool two years ago: Thiago Alcantara. The Spaniard is one of the few playmakers who is equally world-class as a ball chaser and ball distributor. The people of Munich were missing someone like him when they lost their teeth in the quarter-finals at Villarreal FC. For the Reds, he was the best man in the first leg against the reigning Europa League winners.
Thiago Alcantara has been the central figure in Liverpool’s midfield in recent weeks
What: Action Images via Reuters
Thiago is 31 years old, as is captain Jordan Henderson. Defense chief Virgil van Dijk is already 30, and star striker Mo Salah is about to. Jürgen Klopp will have to rebuild his successful team in the next few years – no matter how many titles it wins this year. But he still has the time he needs: he only extended his contract until 2026 after the first leg against Villarreal.
