Klopp on Exeter win, youth development and Anfield support
Jürgen Klopp faced the media in a post-match press conference following Liverpool's 3-0 win over Exeter City at Anfield on Wednesday night, offering his thoughts on a wide-range of talking points. Here's the best of what the boss had to say...
Klopp’s assessment of the Reds’ win over Exeter…
First of all, I really have to say thank-you to the crowd because I could not have imagined tonight would be so loud, in a rematch against a League Two team with the information that we would play with young players. It was a special atmosphere, it was great and it was a really enjoyable night for football. The lads enjoyed it, I could see that, and I spoke to them after the game. Everybody could see it. They worked hard, created chances and scored goals, wonderful goals. They made mistakes and reacted in the right way to mistakes. They fought against an opponent and I have to say, my first impression of League Two football – and I know their position in the table is not too good – is it seems to be a good league! They had a lot of good players in their team. In the first half, they were really experienced; it was very experienced against very young. So it was really hard work for the boys and I was pleased with the performance. A few weeks ago I could not have imagined I would enjoy a rematch in the FA Cup – now I did. Thanks FA Cup!
Klopp on Sheyi Ojo’s performance and goal…
He is very young, so there won’t be 20 interviews next week, or man-of-the-match things…leave the guys where they are. Everybody who has seen him playing has seen what big skills he has, but there are a lot of things he has to work on. I am happy to have him here. He made a goal – it wasn’t too bad! And in the last game [at Exeter] he came on and was important in getting the draw. He is in a good way – but it’s a long way [to go] for these young boys. They showed tonight what they are already able to do and they showed what they have to learn. That is always the case at this age. It’s not [about] protecting – it’s giving the lads time to develop. Tonight was a good moment and, yes, he did a few things that were impressive, but he has a lot of things to learn. The target at the end of the road has to be Liverpool FC in the Premier League and for this you have to be ready in all parts of your development. That’s where we’ll try to help the boys.
Klopp on his decision to field Mignolet, Allen, Ibe and Benteke…
It was because they were available. They didn’t play too often in the last few games, so they had no problems and so that’s the reason they played tonight. At Exeter, for example, Joe [Allen] could have played but was not available and Ibe felt his muscle and it wasn’t too serious but it wasn’t a situation to take a risk. We knew it would be a different game tonight; we played on a completely different pitch and we played differently from the first second, but against a good opponent. A really good opponent. They played football, had a playing build up, they tried everything and we had a lot of work to do, especially for 10-15 minutes in the second half when we lost a little bit of control, but then we scored the goals. We should do this more often and then we’d feel how goals change games!
Klopp on how LFC’s youngsters can make the next step in their development…
By working with them. It doesn’t mean they play because we cannot bring them in every week in the Premier League. We need to have all of our best players here at Liverpool FC – Kent was on loan, Ojo was on loan, Tiago [Ilori] was on loan, Stewart was on loan and a few more. We need to keep them here and then work with them. Football isn’t just about individual development. Yes, you have to develop individually but you have to develop as a team, you have to learn your position and you have to show you can work together with the team. You have to show you know about your job and the things you have to do. We will keep them here, work with them and I am sure the way will be shorter for them – but that’s for the future, not now.