Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is confident the “power of the club” means they will never be without Champions League football for long.
While the Reds boss is not considering the prospect of failing to qualify for Europe’s elite competition this term, he insists Liverpool will not return to the wilderness years of the early part of the last decade.
After spending eight of 10 seasons in the Champions League from the 2001-02 season, they spent six campaigns from 2010-11 either in the Europa League or out of Europe completely.
Having won the tournament for a sixth time in 2019 their current run of four successive seasons is under threat after they slipped off the pace in the race for the top four.
Liverpool do, however, hold a 2-0 lead heading into their last-16 second leg tie against RB Leipzig next week.
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Klopp sought to calm fears missing out this season would be the precursor to another long absence.
“This club will not be a regular out of the Champions League – this year is difficult we know that, but the potential and the power of the club is a completely different one,” he said.
“I do not know the team 10 years ago but we are ready for a battle in this era, and with the team we have together.
“Seasons have momentum and we never really got it this year, that is true, but this club is in a really good position.
“In a difficult time obviously, but in a better position than other clubs I would say.
“I obviously did not think about what happened in the past but what I can say nobody has to worry about the future of the club because it is in good hands and has a really good team together, and so that is obviously the basis for a good future.”
2 Comments
Kloppity Klopp! Down goes Klopp.
How swiftly fortunes change! Such is life. Just 2 months ago, Klopp’s job was considered completely safe. Nowadays, there is talk of Klopp getting replaced by Steve Gerrard.
It would be a mistake of monumental proportions for Liverpool to let Klopp go. The greatest and most successful coach in the club’s history, Klopp has won everything winnable in club football with Liverpool, in a 5 year period. While the club’s recent slump has confounded Liverpool fans and other observers, the fact remains that for a while now, Klopp has had to prosecute Liverpool games without a recognized center back. The three main center backs are currently out. Van Dijk, Matip, and Gomez have been sorely missed. So, Klopp has had to improvise by playing midfielders as center backs, e.g. Fabinho and Henderson. Liverpool are at their best when they have 2 of their best 3 center backs available, and can play the midfielders in their preferred positions in the midfield, with the trade mark bombing forward of the marauding full backs. This provides the platform for the terrible trio upfront to do their business. The absence of the center backs and the forced deployment of midfielders to the center back positions has thrown several spanners in the works, and is the main reason Liverpool are currently struggling.
What Klopp needs now is patience from fans, and at least a new world class center back. And Liverpool will be back to normal.
He should get umerhuo…