Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Reds told to top up their tans
JURGEN KLOPP has told his squad to lie on a beach, drown their sorrows, then come back and seek redemption in the Champions League final.
The Liverpool boss knows just how tough missing out on the Premier League trophy has been on his players, after a 97-point season.
So he wants them to go on holiday before the final in Madrid to recharge – and put the disappointment completely out of their minds. That means sun, sea, sand and even beer until next Monday, if the players choose to do so.
Klopp is convinced that will help get his men in the perfect frame of mind to take on Tottenham on June 1. He said: “They will get a little holiday, and then we have two proper weeks as a pre-season for the Champions League final.
“Hopefully we will win it, come home and people will get what they deserve.”
Reds defender Virgil van Dijk (above) revealed that most of the players will hit the beach, with the manager giving them from today until the end of the weekend, to jet to a destination of their choice.
From there, they will fly to Marbella for a week-long sunshine training camp, before returning to Merseyside for Melwood training, and to fulfil the rest of their media duties before the final.
“We will definitely get days off, I will relax the mind, enjoy the beach and after then we get together for a camp and be ready for the final,” said the PFA Players’ Player of the Year.
Team-mate James Milner said: “The fans have been unbelievable all year. The boys in the squad deserve a bit of silverware, but the supporters do too.”