Although Klopp is assured that his team will not get complacent, he is of the opinion that Liverpool must leave their success behind them to concentrate on challenges coming ahead of them in 2019-20.
Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp reacts during a pre-season friendly football match between Liverpool and Lyon on July 31, 2019 in Geneva. (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP)
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said the Liverpool must not stay in “that moment” in which they won Champions League if they want to emerge as a challenging side this season.
It is to be noted that Liverpool will now take on the present Premier League champions Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday, a little more than two months after they defeated Tottenham to win their sixth Champions League title.
Although Klopp is assured that his team will not get complacent, he is of the opinion that Liverpool must leave their success behind them to concentrate on challenges coming ahead of them in 2019-20.
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“The players aren’t the problem. How would they change in four or five weeks?” Klopp said at a press conference.
“The new situation is that it was a big achievement for the club, a big achievement for each individual. They had a completely different summer.
“Everybody is talking to you about it. If you win something then everybody feels the need to tell you first of all congratulations, then where they watched, how they felt, how their family felt, how their friends felt, how their dog felt.
“It’s all nice but of course it keeps you in that moment. I want to be completely focused on the new season from a specific point. That’s the one thing.
“When we said we have to get rid of the backpack of the history of the club so we can make a step in the right direction, we have to make sure our own history – even though it’s a very good one – doesn’t keep us in that moment.
“That’s very important. We will do that, but we have to learn it. Nobody gives you a book that you can read about how to deal with a Champions League win,” he said.
Notably, Liverpool were close to City in the league in the past season but eventually, it was Manchester City that went past Liverpool by one point. The teams will now meet in the Community Shield.
Live action begins from 7: 30 pm (IST) on 4 August, Sunday
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