After the FA Cup defeat at Manchester United, it is clear that Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool era will end on May 22 at the latest. The coach commented on the 3:4 thriller with composure – and a little tip
When the final whistle blew at Old Trafford, Jürgen Klopp initially looked rather dismayed. But when he was asked to commentate on Liverpool’s dramatic FA Cup exit on English TV a little later, he had already regained his composure – and preferred to praise his team’s sometimes unfortunate performance at length.
“We played a top game,” said the outgoing Reds coach, who can “only” end the season with three titles instead of four after the wild 4-3 defeat after extra time. “The team showed incredible character again today. “
But Manchester United had done the same and had the greater reserves both in normal time and afterwards. “After 2-1, we had so many chances to decide the game. We were almost there in normal time, we were almost there in extra time. And in the end we lose the game,” said an annoyed Klopp, but added: “That’s okay. I can’t ask any more of the boys. “
The exhausted Reds had virtually given the ball away not only before the 3:4 (120-1), but also before the 3:3 (112). As Klopp revealed, the unfortunate player should not even have been on the pitch when the equalizer was scored. “We had to take Darwin off. He was through. But he had to stay on the pitch because Luis Diaz suddenly stretched his groin.” So Klopp made his final substitution for him
Klopp: “We had a much more intense season” than Man United
His little point in the direction of his arch-rivals: “We had a much more intense season, you just have to count the number of games.” Liverpool’s season cannot be compared to United’s, he said. As a result of the elimination, “we now have one or two games less and will try to use that in the coming weeks”. It has been clear since Sunday that Klopp’s Liverpool era will end with the Europa League final in Dublin on May 22 at the latest, not with the FA Cup three days later.
After the international break, Liverpool will now fight for their remaining title chances in the Premier (2nd place) and Europa League (quarter-final against West Ham). They will return to Old Trafford at the beginning of April. Klopp: “We’ll know more then. “
