Why Klopp thinks title collapse will make life easier for new boss Slot
IF his gloomy facial expression and defeatist body language did not give the game away, Jurgen Klopp has now confirmed what many suspected.
Wednesday’s meek surrender at Goodison Park was the most disappointed he has felt after a game in his career.
Liverpool lost 2-0 against their bitter city rivals, the first time they had lost at Everton since 2010. That added salt to Klopp’s wounds, plus the fact it all but ruled them out of the Premier League title race.
The most bitter pill to swallow for the German, though, was his team’s lack of fight. Of course, he would never throw them under the bus — he has taken the blame — and this campaign will end around par for the course given the pre-season expectations.
‘It’s really strange but I hated our game,’ he said. ‘We were not even close to what we want to be. You saw the game. It wasn’t the first (below par) one but it was the worst one.
‘I see two teams (Arsenal and Manchester City) who play really positive football and go for it. We can do that — but we don’t in this moment. And who can I make responsible for that?
‘It is not about individuals — “You and you and you” — that doesn’t make sense. It’s my job until the last day to make sure that the boys feel that. The game (Everton) was horrible to watch.
‘In Germany when the crowd is not happy with the team and they think they are not fighting enough, they sing a song, “Wir wollen euch kampfen sehen” which translates into, “We want to see you fight” — I was close to singing that! Never has one of my teams heard that ever. Never.
‘We found a way to concede a goal. The goal was a joke. We kicked the ball at each other and then he was free in the box… please! And it is just when you’re not yourself. ( Jarrad) Branthwaite mis-hit the ball and it rolls in... you can laugh about it but it was incredible.’
So while opposite number Sean Dyche returned to his flat to enjoy a couple of lager shandies, Klopp went back to his home in Formby and has not long come out of his bad mood.
Asked how he handled the emotional trauma, the 56-yearold said: ‘Time! I know it didn’t work out properly. When I went home, it (his mood) was not great, when I woke up it was not great. I went to the office, it was not great. But it got better, step by step. So that is how it is.
‘I believe as well that you have to feel defeats and it was a tough one. But I’m absolutely fine. As I said, you can lose a game but if you don’t learn from it, it is a double defeat. And we have to make sure that doesn’t happen.’
Liverpool will attempt to avoid making the same mistakes when they visit West Ham today, with the Reds having just four games left of Klopp’s tenure. ‘I am not in the mood to raise the white flag,’ he added yesterday.
But as Klopp admitted, this late season stumble has made the task for new manager Arne Slot a lot less daunting.
If the Klopp era had ended with a fairytale title win, the Dutchman would have been expected to immediately follow suit. Feyenoord boss Slot, 45, will take the reins in a deal that was verbally agreed last night and should be all tied up this weekend.
Klopp said: ‘I am not involved in the process, just to clarify that, but I like a lot about it if he is the one. He wants to take the job. Come on, let’s go for it. Excited.
‘Good coach, good guy. Looking forward to it for the club if he is the solution or the man. I’m more than happy.
‘This is the best job in the world, the best club in the world.
‘Obviously now I even help by not finishing on a high, it looks like! There is space for improvement. Great job, great team,
fantastic people. He would take a really, really interesting job.’
Mail Sport understands the haggling yesterday was over the number of backroom staff Slot brings with him. Right-hand man Sipke Hulshoff will follow Slot, as will head of performance Ruben Peeters. Analyst Etienne Reijnen is wanted at Anfield too but a deal for him is in the balance as Feyenoord play hardball over the number of staff that will leave De Kuip. The total package is expected to reach £13million.
And as Liverpool’s team aim to return to winning ways in east London this afternoon, their top brass will look to conclude negotiations as soon as possible.