Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has responded to Mohamed Salah’s emotional apology to the club’s fans after missing out on the Champions League. View pictures in App save up to 80% data....CONTINUE READING
The Merseysiders’ fate was decided on Thursday (May 25) when Manchester United beat Chelsea 4-1. This means Klopp’s team will have to settle for fifth place and the Europa League next season.
Salah took to Twitter moments after the Red Devils’ win to apologize to the fans. The Egyptian said:
“I’m completely shocked. There is no excuse for that. We had everything we needed to qualify for next year’s Champions League, and we failed.”
Klopp understands how the striker feels and believes it was a normal reaction going forward. He told reporters (via the Liverpool Echo):
“It’s completely normal (about Salah’s comment). There are so many bad things happening in the world of social media all the time, and I don’t think this was one of them.”
Klopp insisted that any optimism can wait until the Egyptian digests the fact that his team missed out on the Champions League.
“It was just a normal description of his situation and his feelings, and at this point right after the game, he’s right; it’s not the right time to send optimistic messages right away, maybe an hour or a day later.”
This is the first time Liverpool have failed to qualify for the Champions League since the 2016–2017 season. Salah joined the Merseysiders after this season, so he is not used to being in the top four. However, Klopp insists the Egyptian was in good spirits in person on Friday morning. He added:
“But I saw him now in the canteen, and he was smiling. I don’t know why, because I didn’t ask, but he’s not in a bad mood. That’s it.”
Liverpool will be hoping to end their season on a high when they face Southampton on Sunday (May 28). This will be the case for Roberto Firmino, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Naby Keita, who will all leave the club.
