Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp began his post-mortem into Liverpool's Europa League final loss to defending champions Sevilla by taking a long look at his own performance before that of his team
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp
Basel: Jurgen Klopp began his post-mortem into Liverpool's Europa League final loss to defending champions Sevilla by taking a long look at his own performance before that of his team.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp
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Liverpool lost 3-1 despite having led through a brilliant Daniel Sturridge strike as they fell apart in the second half , with neither the players nor their manager able to do anything to halt the decline.
It was a chastening experience for all but particularly Klopp who, having inspired a remarkable comeback against Borussia Dortmund in the last eight, has now lost his last five finals. His credentials are not in question as the progress made since he took over from Brendan Rodgers in October is evident but that will not stop the German analysing himself — before turning the spotlight on his squad.
'Self-criticise'
"The first thing you have to do when you look at the man in the mirror is criticise yourself," he said. "As manager of the team all I have to do is self-criticise, nothing else.
"It is all about us, all about me. It is my job to help the players to react in different situations better. I can improve a lot."
Sevilla's players pose with their trophy after winning the UEFA Europa League final against Liverpool at the St Jakob-Park Stadium in Basel, Switzerland on Wednesday. Pic/AFP
Having not utilised the January transfer window to bolster his squad Klopp has already signed Schalke centre-back Joel Matip and Red Star Belgrade midfielder Marko Grujic for next season - and there will be more arrivals to come over the summer.
But after an exhausting 63-match campaign there will be no European football next season and that will benefit Klopp as he seeks to properly stamp his mark on the club.
"It is clear we are not in a European tournament next year so we don't have football on Wednesday or Thursday so we will have time to train and we will for sure come back stronger," he added.
New-look team
"Of course this team will be a little bit different next year but we will do something with transfers first. Hopefully the players all come back (from Euro 2016) healthy and we have no injury problems for pre-season.
"It will be a long tournament for my players, some of them could stay in it for a long time and then only have a short break."
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