Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WE ARE NOT JUST A ONE-MAN TEAM HERE!
Klopp reacts angrily after he is asked if Liverpool even have a chance to win in Amsterdam without Virgil
JURGEN KLOPP placed his hand over his face, took a deep breath and uttered: “Are you even a journalist?”
The response came in a question from the overseas media about Liverpool’s prospects in tonight’s Champions League visit to Ajax in Amsterdam.
“Do you even have a chance against Ajax without Van Dijk and Thiago?” he was asked.
Setting aside the bizarre nature of such a blunt enquiry for a team that held world, European and Premier League titles at the same time, it did rather encapsulate a certain mood around the injury to Virgil van Dijk, which has jeopardised his season.
There is a sense of despair, even among diehard Reds supporters, and a wave of pessimism among seasoned pundits suggesting that their title chances, let alone their European hopes, could be over without their talisman.
Klopp, of course, was having none of it.
Af t e r a b r i e f flare of angry sarcasm – “Do we have a chance? No!” – he hinted that Van Dijk may be back rather quicker than the start of next season, as so many have speculated.
“We knew since yesterday that our vice-captain and the best centre-half in the world is not playing for us for a long time. We will see how long, by the way,” he said, grimly.
“We are here without Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip. We will still give it a try. What can we do now? People can say what they want, it is a free world , but three weeks ago they said we’d run away with the league.
“Now, three weeks later, we are not even in c ont ention for anything any more. That’s football. That’s the world right now. We cannot be that excited. We have to stay calm. That’s what we try. We will.”
The anger bristling beneath the surface was palpable, and it flashed again when he made a scathing reference to former Liverpool defender and now Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher.
He said: “If anyone wants to tell us now we made a mistake in the transfer window... I think Jamie Carragher mentioned already something... that is the reason why they don’t do this job and do the other job.”
As Liverpool prepared to take on Ajax in Europe’s elite competition for the first time since 1966, Klopp’s focus was firmly on how to deal best with the situation he finds himself in, without – as he said himself –
the best defender in the world. His words were defiant, and if they were aggressive to some they were soothing for Liverpool fans.
They will find a way. Their season has not been derailed.
“Everybody is having fun and, look, it’s the Champions League tomorrow night! Hey! Look at how Liverpool will do this or that!
“We will give it a proper try, I promise you . No excuses f or nothing,” he added.
“So why should I think the boys cannot deal with the situation? But the number of questions you ask suggests you think we will all struggle with it.
“So we have to prove you wrong? I am not even interested in proving you wrong. I am only interested in the best for Liverpool and for my
players. That is what we try now. Hopefully the results in the next few weeks will calm you all slightly, but I cannot promise it.”
What Klopp did promise, with his long experience as a top class manager, is a calm approach to the problem. There will be no panic at Anfield, just solutions.
He added: “The first question people ask is, ‘What are you doing now in the transfer market?’. We work. We work on solutions for now and we will tr y to find solutions for the future. I have no idea how they will look in this moment... sorry.”
Reds skipper Jordan Henderson certainly believes Liverpool will still be in contention for trophies when Van Dijk returns.
He said: “It’s a big blow for us, and for him personally, obviously. A massive blow. I’m gutted for him.
“It’s a difficult moment, but that’s when you need to be there for each other. I’ll be there as much as I can for him and I’m m sure the lads will do the same. e.
“But I’m sure he’ll be back stronger. In the he meantime we’ve got t to do everything we can to go and win as many games as we can for him.
“We have to make e sure that when he is back and fit that we are still fighting for trophies. phies. You’ve got to use times like this to be even more together.
“Virgil will be back stronger and, hopefully, it won’t be too long.”