Klopp: Development of my young boys is insane
JURGEN KLOPP heaped praise on his Wembley fledglings as they led Liverpool to glory in the Carabao Cup final. Ravaged by injury, made worse by the sight of Ryan Gravenberch taken off on a stretcher with an ankle injury, Reds boss Klopp relied heavily on his kids with Conor Bradley, Harvey Elliott, Bobby Clark, Jarell Quansah, James McConnell and Jayden Danns — who are all 21 or under — playing a role in Liverpool’s victory over Chelsea.
‘Age is not at all in our thought process,’ replied Klopp when the German was asked about the decision to play his young stars.
‘It’s clear we need to fill the squad and these were the boys we would take.
‘We needed fresh legs, that was clear. It was clear we had to make changes.
‘The development of Bobby Clark, it’s really crazy, I have to say. The development of James McConnell is absolutely insane. And Dannsy I love him, from his first training session.
‘There were other kids we could have brought on. It’s just nice to partner these boys with their first moment.
‘The way the experienced group embraces them is pretty special.’
The triumph represented Klopp’s seventh major trophy at Liverpool, and with the club top of the Premier League and still in the FA Cup and Europa League, his final season in charge at Anfield could be the most special of all.
But Klopp added: ‘I couldn’t care less about my legacy. I’m not here to create one.
‘As a manager I just have to do the job. I couldn’t have done the same with another club. ‘It was exactly made for this situation. This was so special. We had problems before the game, they became bigger in the game.
‘We had a ref who was not up to the level, for both teams. There was really no common sense again. It’s something I don’t know if they don’t teach it or don’t ask for it, it’s just not there.
‘We had players on the pitch until the end of the game who had problems, we asked Harvey to stay (on the pitch for 120 minutes), we asked Lucho (Luis Diaz) to stay. ‘I have no idea who can play on Wednesday night (in the FA Cup fifth round against Southampton at Anfield). It’s a moment I will never forget. It’s a nice memory.’ On match-winner Virgil van Dijk’s contribution, Klopp added: ‘From the first day since he stepped into Liverpool he has been outstanding.
‘Thank God he’s absolutely spot on, top shape, we need him. I think he learned an important lesson tonight. He will never forget it, not just because it was his first trophy as Liverpool captain, but because of the circumstances.’