Sulk and you’re out Klopp warns as reality bites
RALPH SHOPPING IN BARGAIN BASEMENT Guardiola dismisses talk of Champions League rehearsal and says: We’ve got a league title to win
JURGEN KLOPP will react swiftly – and ruthlessly – if any of his stars are moping next season without Champions League football.
The Liverpool boss is facing up to missing out on the top four with five games to go, saying: “I’m not sure there’s still a chance.”
But he added: “We are not kids in a candy shop who are not getting the candies.We are responsible for the situation we’re in, and nobody will watch next season’s Champions League and lie in front of the television and cry if we are not involved.
“The good things that happened in the past few years we did together and this season we did together as well.That is the situation in football. That is completely normal.That will not be a challenge.”
Inevitably, though, players like Mo Salah are now at the centre of much intrigue, with rumours circulating about interest from the likes of Real Madrid and PSG. Sadio Mane
RALPH HASENHUTTL says Southampton will have to go bargain hunting this summer and he demanded more from his academy.
It was only in January that Liverpool - who Saints face at Anfield tonight - were beaten 1-0 in the corresponding fixture and Hasenhuttl wept on the touchline.
But Saints have won just twice in the league since and Hasenhuttl said: “The big problem in the Premier League is when you ask for a new player you automatically
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and even Virgil van Dijk have been linked with European clubs.
Klopp though, made it clear that if anyone is moping or sulking about missing out on the top four, he will root out the problem.
“The reaction from this season we will show together as well,” he added. “If somebody would struggle with that I’m pretty sure I’d recognise it early and I’d solve that situation early.We will sort it... you can trust me.”
He hasn’t given up hope of the Champions League but admitted ahead of the Southampton game tonight: “We have to be perfect in our last five games, that’s clear.”
He is planning for next season and feels a bright spot will be Thiago. “We will see the best of him [then],” Klopp said.
He has defender Nat Phillips back and revealed Jordan Henderson has resumed running on grass at the training ground, in the hope of making the Euros. pay more. It’s not like buying a car. And if you want to buy somebody who’s not expensive, you have a problem with the work permit.
“You’re killing yourself – especially teams who are not able to pay £20 or £30million. When you ask for an interesting player it often starts at £20m and we’re not able to spend this.
“We have to pick players who maybe over time become good. We also need to improve the academy.”
PEP GUARDIOLA insists beating Chelsea today will not give his side a mental advantage for the Champions League final.
Manchester City host Thomas Tuchel’s men at the Etihad, where victory for Guardiola’s side will clinch them the league title.
The clash is also being seen as a dress rehearsal for Europe’s showpiece game between the two clubs in Istanbul on May 29.
But Guardiola has told his stars to forget about thinking this is the chance to land a psychological blow.
Guardiola is more focused on wrapping up a third league title in the past four seasons.
He said: “Congratulations to them [Chelsea] for being in the final after two good performances against the kings of this competition, Real Madrid.
“If we were playing the final in one week, it could be [a psychological lift], but there’s almost three weeks to go many things can happen.
“The Premier League is so important. Right now, there is not one thought about the final – as we don’t have the Premier League trophy in our hands.
“When we have it, this weekend or in the next weeks, then the focus will be on the Champions League and everything related to it.
“But I’m so cautious to think that if you don’t have it, then don’t talk about it [the Champions League final].We still need points.”
City need three more points to be crowned champions but when it happens, the Spaniard insists he will not rest his big-name stars ahead of the final, because he wants them to remain focused ahead of what will be the biggest and game of
Turkey.
He said: “I want to be honest. Players will not be rested to think about the final. If you win the last games, you are more involved.
“Now we have a period of days in which we play Chelsea, Newcastle, Brighton and Everton. It’s in our hands and we want it as quickly as possible.
“It won’t be easy, but it would be good to celebrate what we’ve done. The moment we can, we will and then every player will be focused.
“Everyone will be so focused to arrive in the best condition. Everyone has to be ready, Chelsea play differently, so I will want everyone involved in the next two or three weeks to prepare for the final.” their lives in