Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp: Man City won the Premier Because Of Liverpool Injuries
Jurgen Klopp at a conference | Manchester evening news
Jurgen Klopp says Manchester City could not have won the title if his team had to deal with injuries as Liverpool did.
Center-backs Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez have suffered injuries that have kept them out of the game most of the season.
The likes of Joel Matip, Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Diogo Jota were also injured for large periods during the season.
“With our injuries it was not the year to become champions,” Klopp said.
“No chance – for nobody.
“As good as they are, if City have their three centre-halves out, no [they don’t win the league]. Three centre-halves of [Manchester] United, no.
“We have fought back a bit, accepted the difficulties and made the best of it, and if we win on Sunday, and if we qualify for the Champions League, then we made the best of it. That is it.”
Even though the Reds were top of the Premier League table at Christmas, Klopp’s side eventually crumbled under the impact of injuries.
Klopp’s Liverpool side finished 18 points ahead of Man City when they won the Premier League last season
In the meantime, they have won seven of their last nine matches, and if they beat Crystal Palace at home on Sunday, they should qualify for the Champions League.
Klopp consistently praised his players’ mentality during last season’s title-winning campaign and dubbed his team “mentality monster”
“It is clear we wouldn’t come to this situation if the boys wouldn’t have showed this kind of character. They have very special character,” he added.
“The boys proved it now millions of times, it’s not about their mentality or character if something has gone wrong.
“Going through tough periods makes you stronger as a unit and in that time we didn’t get distracted. Nothing came between us.
“Yes we had our moments, players were not in the best shape or the best mood. I was not in the best mood, but we always found a way to stick together.
“We never blamed each other or pointed a finger at each other and said, ‘It is because of you or you’.
So whatever happens on Sunday, we found our way out to bring us to this situation.”
