Coutinho is yet to win silverware with the club but after narrowly missing out on the Capital One Cup in February to Manchester City, the playmaker insists that Jurgen Klopp’s side are finally ready to put their previous shortcomings behind them against Sevilla.
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On the touchline, Liverpoll’s boss Jürgen Klopp pounded his chest, pumped his fists and pointed to his head, seemingly struggling to control his own emotions and communicate the right balance of passion and composure to his players.
“Since I said what I’d do if I player said to me he would only come if we have Champions League [put the phone down], no player had said it to me!” “And when we get relaxed, we can beat anyone”, he added. Right. And Villarreal? Right. “We lost faith in our style of play, we lost our formation, (we were) not compact any more, but we’ve had this problem before”. “This hard, intensive seven months feels like it should end in a final”, the German was quoted as saying by goal.com. Sturridge’s fine opener scuppered their hopes of breaking the deadlock once Liverpool were suitably rattled, and the Premier League outfit almost doubled their lead a couple of times. “We have the breath of fresh air”.
Both teams have recently been to Basel. We knew we were not very many [Sevilla] fans. “It is our competition and we underlined that once again”. That’s all we can be. The lure of Champions League football, set alongside the chance to play for Klopp and at Anfield, would have completed an attractive package to set before any potential signings.
Liverpool thought they had a second five minutes later when Dejan Lovren headed in from a corner, but Sturridge, in an offside position, attempted to get a flick on the ball and the flag went up.
“Tomorrow, we will see it a little more clear and we will use this”.
“Now we are there, and it’s a great opportunity and we will take it”.
The Liverpool coach believes victory tonight can be a stepping stone not only for the club but can also provide the players with a valuable confidence boost to help further their careers. I am not sure about it but for me it’s the only way to work to be honest.
That would guarantee a windfall of at least £40m, but Klopp says it won’t change the list of targets the Merseyside club have already drawn up.
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Fans behind the goal at one end of St Jakob Park in Basel weren’t segregated before the match, leading to several ugly clashes before security officers formed a human barrier. “In any part of life that’s brilliant and it feels wonderful. That’s where I’d be looking to really strengthen the team”.
