London - Two weeks since Anfield’s foundations rattled after one of Liverpool’s most extraordinary nights and the buzz of beating Borussia Dortmund remains.
That 4-3 triumph, secured against the odds, has been taken by some Liverpool fans as a sign that a trip to Basle for the Europa League final is on the agenda and their name is on the trophy.
For Jurgen Klopp, however, romance has been replaced by realism.‘In each difficult game you win, it is the best thing you can do in your career and you can take the benefit from it,’ said the Liverpool manager.
‘If you go out, it could be an important experience, if you go through it could be an important experience. But, if you use it in the wrong way, then it is bull****. ’The language was colourful and there was a smile on Klopp’s face but the message he was imparting was deadly serious.
If Liverpool do not follow up their heroics against his old club by knocking Villarreal out of the Europa League, the comeback will mean nothing.‘It is not the moment to think that the experience against Dortmund in the quarter-final is the experience we need, it is not about this,’ he said. ‘It is the only chance in 2015-16, in the Europa League, to go as far as possible.
That is all.’Here was Klopp urging his squad to seize the moment. A European campaign that started off with limited expectations and a 1-1 draw in Bordeaux last September is now, after 12 unbeaten games, on the cusp of being remembered as one of the best in their history.‘Of course when I came last October, Basle was not a real thing to think about,’ he added.
‘Now it is not that far away.’Liverpool have not contested a European final since 2007 and only played in two semi-finals since then - against Chelsea (Champions League) in 2008 and Atletico Madrid (Europa League) two years later - so Klopp is well aware these opportunities do not come with great frequency.
‘It’s important to understand my players are in the semi-final because they were always ready for the moment,’ said Klopp, who has Christian Benteke fit again after a knee problem. ‘They never thought about the next round, so it’s important that I show them the respect they’ve earned.
‘We have only spoken about the semi-final. Nobody thinks we are half way (to the final). We are here because we respect this tournament. We have respected it and done our best in each round. That’s why we’re here. Why should we change this way now?‘There’s no doubt from my side. It’s not about talking about Basle or the final.
What Villarreal have shown each week, being fourth in the Spanish league, is the highest level of football. We have to be prepared for our best game. We should not hope they will simply make wrong decisions.’On the subject of wrong decisions, a part of the day’s narrative was consumed by Mamadou Sakho.
The France international was left behind on Merseyside while he remains under investigation by UEFA following his failed drugs test after the last-16 clash with Manchester United on March 17.
Sakho is not suspended and has not been disciplined after traces of a banned substance - believed to be a fat burner - were found in his sample, but it now seems certain that he will accept a charge from UEFA after declining the opportunity to have his B sample tested.Given the sensitivity of the issue, Sakho will not play for Liverpool until there has been a resolution.
If he is charged and found guilty, he faces a ban for anything between six months - the length team-mate Kolo Toure received for taking diet pills when playing for Manchester City in 2011 - and two years. ‘What everyone is doing now is collecting information to clear up the situation as much as possible,’ said Klopp.
‘We have to wait for the next steps. It’s not that we could do anything or we couldn’t force anything, we have to wait. Until now we did what we thought was right. There is nothing else to say.
’If Klopp was reticent to broach the subject of Sakho, he had no such issue discussing the momentous events of the Hillsborough inquest this week. As Klopp put his players through their final preparations here in El Madrigal, Villarreal’s compact and intense little stadium, an emotionally charged vigil took place on St George’s Plateau in Liverpool city centre to commemorate the 96 people who died on April 15, 1989 and their families who had campaigned relentlessly for truth and justice.
Klopp did not try to suggest he was fully attuned with what Liverpool as a city was feeling but he could not hide his admiration that their fight was successful.‘What I saw was a very, very big moment for all the families,’ said Klopp.
‘I’m really pleased for them, that finally they got the justice they wanted - 27 years is a very long time. It shows all of us if you fight for the truth, and are patient enough, then it can happen.’
Daily Mail