Mohamed Salah stated that it is “too soon” to be optimistic following Liverpool’s failure to qualify for the Champions League.
Jurgen Klopp is not as glum as his star player.
The morning after Manchester United’s victory over Chelsea relegated his team to fifth place and the Europa League’s second division for the upcoming season, the Liverpool manager acknowledged that “we didn’t deliver” but listed reasons for optimism at Anfield.
The following year, however, we have European nights scheduled. “Who cares if it’s a Thursday instead of Tuesday-Wednesday?,” Klopp said prior to Sunday’s Premier League season finale at Southampton.
The loss of Champions League funds is painful
Thursday’s 4-1 United victory over Chelsea ended Liverpool’s prospects of finishing in the top four. Liverpool had participated in the Champions League for six consecutive seasons, winning the title in 2019 and reaching the final three other times, including last season.
“We didn’t deliver what everyone wanted and expected, and rightly so, but we are still extremely united, which is the positive,” Klopp said. “If you can endure challenging times like we did in the past year, I believe you have a solid foundation for a brighter future. Therefore, I have many reasons to be optimistic.”
While United supporters were still celebrating their Champions League qualification at Old Trafford on Thursday night, Liverpool’s leading scorer for the season took to social media.
The Egypt international’s post read, “I’m utterly devastated.” There is absolutely no justification for this. We had everything we needed to qualify for the Champions League next season, but we failed. We are Liverpool, and participation in the competition is a prerequisite. I apologize, but it is too early for an upbeat or optimistic post. We let ourselves and you down.”
The Merseyside club took Manchester City to the final day of last season’s Premier League title competition before finishing second. Klopp stated that the current 10-game unbeaten stretch demonstrates the team’s “trust and faith… it’s a great foundation” despite the fact that Liverpool has endured for much of the current season.
The manager stated that he had no objections to Salah’s message.
“So many bad things occur constantly in the world of social media, but I don’t believe that was one of them,” he said. “In that moment immediately following the game, he is correct; that is not the time to convey optimistic messages, but perhaps an hour or a day later.
“I now saw him in the cafeteria, and he was grinning. I didn’t ask him, so I don’t know why, but he was in a good humor.”