Wenger has got it right on Champions League
JURGEN KLOPP has placed himself firmly in the Arsene Wenger camp when it comes to Champions League qualification.
The Frenchman has always taken stick for suggesting that a top-four finish is the equivalent of winning a trophy, but the Liverpool boss backs up that assessment.
“Yes, I would subscribe to that,” says Klopp, who started the weekend in possession of the third qualification spot.
“The Premier League is the most difficult to qualify from because in no other league do you have that wide range of unbelievable teams.
“It depends on your point of view – if it’s really good to qualify or if it’s the minimum you should achieve.
“For us, it would be a real success. But it would also be disappointing if we can’t reach it.
“That is how it is, but that is because of the way the season has been. We have really put ourselves in a good position.
“But I think it will go to the last day of the season. When I look at my history, that always seems to happen!”
Unlike the other five clubs competing for four Champions League spots, Liverpool have no other distraction.
Chelsea and Spurs are involved in the two-horse title fight and the FA Cup, Manchester City and Arsenal are also cup semi-finalists and Manchester United have the Europa League.
“You ask if we have an advantage, I don’t know,” he says. “But we have to make the most of our situation.
“Maybe you can have injuries that need one week to recover and it’s not enough when you’ve only three days, but the difference is not so big.
“I actually think being in the semi-final of the FA Cup is a wonderful thing.
“We were in the Europa League last year and didn’t feel for a second that it disturbed us in the League. In fact, it brought us through.”
Liverpool begin their sixgame run-in today at West Brom – the highest-placed team they have left to play.
With an injury list that contains Adam Lallana, Sadio Mane and Jordan Henderson, Klopp will increasingly look to Philippe Coutinho to steer the team home.
During the week former Middlesbrough star Juninho described Coutinho and Barcelona’s Neymar as the two best Brazilians in world football. Despite the ink being barely dry on a new Liverpool contract, talk of Barca uniting the two this summer won’t go away.
However, Klopp remains adamant that he won’t have a problem keeping Coutinho.
“Actually, I think it’s positive when there’s interest,” he says. “I’m not concerned because I think Phil fits really well and comfortably here.
“We give the boys enough perspective that they really want to be part of this for the next few years.”
Albion bossTony Pulis is on course for his highest-ever finish in the Premier League, and Klopp says he could easily be a candidate for his vote when it comes to the League Managers Association Manager of the Year award.
“You always respect what Tony is doing at West Brom,” he says. “I don’t think he has a bad football team.
“So, of course, he will have a chance of being Manager of the Year. But for me, Antonio Conte is the obvious choice, with Mauricio Pochettino not far behind, because it is the second year-in-a-row that he has such a young team playing wonderful football in difficult situations.”