Klopp on West Brom draw, line-up changes and Europa final
Jürgen Klopp offered his thoughts on Liverpool's final-day 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns in his post-match press conference. Here's what he had to say...
On his reaction to the draw…
We made a few changes – 11 – and it made sense because it was absolutely clear you could not play here today with 50 per cent concentration. I know about playing in finals, so it would have been quite difficult for the players we left at home to come here and be ready for this really intensive game. It was clear it would be quite intensive because that’s the way of West Brom. So we decided on this line-up and I’m really pleased for the boys and how they did. We would have had no chance if there were a lot more set-pieces in the game; we knew about their quality and our problems with this line-up – not tall enough, not experienced enough in these situations.
The plan was to keep the ball as long as possible and with these young boys, it was a real challenge for them but they did good, they did really well. We played football. West Brom scored a really nice goal, to be honest. We could have obviously defended better, it was a pretty close situation – we had four [defenders] and there was only one West Brom player. Rondon was completely free and scored the goal. But we struck back, it was good. In the end, there were a few set-pieces but that was all; there were no real chances for West Brom and I think we deserved this point and it’s absolutely OK for us.
On what the players who didn’t travel did today…
They trained. They trained this morning. Pep Lijnders was not with us in the hotel last night, so he came here today after training. He made a session with all the boys you know about plus Joao Teixeira, who had a little back problem, and Divock Origi, who trained today normally with the team. So, that’s what they did.
On Jordon Ibe’s wonderful goal…
It was a nice goal. We could have had situations like this a little bit more often. We had a situation when Cameron Brannagan had a chance [before Ibe’s goal]. We passed the ball very often, very good. Quick and simple – how it should be. We created spaces and when you accelerate in the right moment, you can use the space you created by your passing game. In that moment, Ibe did it perfectly. And in the situation with Cameron Brannagan, the shot was not too good – he is a really good shooter, usually – but he could have scored in this moment. It was clear we wouldn’t have 10 or 15 opportunities today for scoring goals, but we had enough to deserve a point. We could have won, but I think it was a deserved point so it’s absolutely OK.
On his decision to make 11 changes…
That was the strongest side for today. I said the problem would have been if we’d come [here] with other players and they are already with their minds on the next game, which would be absolutely normal for human beings and you cannot change this, then everybody would think I am silly and if I don’t come with these players, everybody thinks I didn’t do the right job. But I can’t change that. I brought the best line-up here today that I thought was the best for this game.
On the Europa League final…
I’m not too important, it’s not about how important it is for me. It is a European final and so what could be bigger? I know a week-and-a-half later is the Champions League final, but that is the only bigger game until the European Championships. This is the second-biggest in this moment in Europe. I think it’s quite big and we will try everything to take the opportunity. It is difficult – we know. It is against Sevilla – we know. But we will be prepared, 100 per cent. Like we deserved the point today, so we deserve to be a part of the final – 100 per cent. And who deserves to be in a final can win and that’s what we’ll try.