Jürgen on first-leg lessons, Augsburg tactics and more
Jürgen Klopp previewed Liverpool's Europa League last-32 second leg against FC Augsburg with a press conference for reporters at Melwood on Wednesday afternoon - here are some of the boss' key points.
On learning from the first leg...
"We have to focus on getting through to the next round, people are talking about the final but tomorrow is the most important thing. I think, looking back, the players have to learn from last week. In this competition we have got big aims which also relies on equal performances and that's what we have to show again tomorrow against Augsburg."
On Augsburg playing at the weekend...
"I don't think that's a decisive thing. They had a chance to rotate some of their players so I don't think that's decisive. It is just the way it worked out that we didn't play on Sunday but that's not going to make a huge difference."
On Markus Weinzierl's tactics...
"[Augsburg] are a danger, especially if they score [and] make the situation very difficult. Obviously, the situation is very clear to us, it's all part of the game. There is no reason to play to FC Augsburg's game. We want to assert ourselves and play our game. I think they are also not simply a counter-attacking team [and] they have other means of attacking so there's nothing new there. Their game at the weekend against Hannover, they didn't play a counter-attacking game. They played a completely different way so it is not that straightforward. We are aware of the quality of Augsburg, perhaps we didn't do as well as we should have last week but then it is down to us to prove [we can] tomorrow night."
On Daniel Sturridge...
“That’s how he [has been] in the last few weeks in training [relaxed]. I agree with everything he said but it was not my plan in Augsburg to play at not the highest speed! Maybe I have to improve my English or to take an interpreter. It's clear we have to do more and [be] better than the first game. It was [also] interesting to hear what you asked [Daniel] - he was completely relaxed. I thought for the first time you were more excited than the player at the opportunity to ask Daniel Sturridge a few questions. But it's good, I think a few things are more clear now before and I think that’s what we need in this situation. I heard from him - not second or third hand - a lot of times [that his] future [is at] LFC. And I don't know another LFC so I think he means Liverpool Football Club. So everything is fine and you can now stop thinking about this, that's good for you, good for us. He is a really good football player and now he’s able to play and that's what we all want to see the whole time."