- Title: We're in Qatar to win not to show Europe is the best, says Klopp
- Date: 18th December 2019
- Summary: DOHA, QATAR (DECEMBER 18, 2019) (REUTERS) LIVERPOOL MANAGER, JUERGEN KLOPP, ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE SIGN, READING: "FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP QATAR 2019. PRESENTED BY ALIBABA CLOUD" KLOPP AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIVERPOOL MANAGER, JUERGEN KLOPP, SAYING: "Why should we think that European football stands overall or whatever? But still one game is not enough. You cannot judge a player after one game and you cannot judge a team after one game. But they are good; I saw in the game against Al Sadd already and good players. But we were in it for us really new line-up really dominant in a lot of moments so this kind of switch what they do from time to time Monterrey with five in the back, four in the back, didn't cause us too much problems. We had sensational football moments with Naby (Keita) and Mo (Salah) especially when we passed the ball through so we did what we had to do. We were not here to show that Europe is stronger than North America or Mexico or whatever. We just wanted to win the game and all the rest, other people have to judge." CLUB WORLD CUP LOGO ON WALL (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIVERPOOL MANAGER, JUERGEN KLOPP, SAYING: "I was actually afraid of the extra-time, to be honest. So, I was more than happy when Bobby (Roberto Firmino) scored that goal so we had to do a few changes because we had no other options but we wanted to do for the line-up some other changes which means we left Trent (Alexander-Arnold) out obviously, we left Bobby out and Sadio (Mane) out so that gives you then the opportunity when the game is not decided to make the decision and that Bobby scored the goal is just wonderful. He came on and he was immediately in the game; it was a really good situation, a pass from Mo maybe not clear enough but he helped us a lot. Sadio with his power and all that stuff, Trent immediately (made) dangerous crosses so it helped, but staying on track is part of our game so I don't think, for sure you cannot plan it a goal like this you only should not think it is impossible so that's the only thing and it really was a super, super goal." MEDIA AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIVERPOOL MANAGER, JUERGEN KLOPP, SAYING: "We have now to collect our bones, I don't in that moment... I don't know exactly who will be ready for the next games, we will see. I saw the bench of Monterrey, there were like 10-15 players on it. I don't know, I'm not sure, probably Flamengo's season is over. They are here with a full squad pretty much as well so we have just to recover as quick as possible and then to make ourselves ready so but we saw Flamengo of course in the other semi-final and it was an open game for a long period so we will see, we will see who deals better with the circumstances, who has more right decisions that's about... but of course they are with (Flamengo coach) Jorge Jesus as a manager of course has European influence or Portuguese influence at least and that's it but the players itself have already quality so even if it would not be a European coach it would be already difficult with Jorge Jesus very, very experienced, very successful in Portugal and now in Brazil as well so yes we have a lot of respect for that but in the end we'll try our best and see how it will work out." VARIOUS OF LIVERPOOL STRIKER, MOHAMED SALAH AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIVERPOOL STRIKER, MOHAMED SALAH, SAYING: "I think it was a tough game. They were very aggressive against us, you know. All of us were caring about our legs and they were really aggressive and I think the referee doesn't protect us too much but I'm not here to complain about it but I think in the end we show our quality and we win in the last minutes so I think we deserve it." MEDIA AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIVERPOOL STRIKER, MOHAMED SALAH, SAYING: "I think all the supporters were Egyptian. I can hear that today and when you feel support, Egyptian support everywhere I feel happy about that and I always feel love when they call my name or I feel support from them so I'm happy to hear that from them." SIGN ON WALL, READING: "#CLUBWC" SALAH LEAVING AT END OF NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 1st January 2020 23:07
- Keywords: Club World Cup Juergen Klopp Liverpool Mohamed Salah Monterrey
- Location: DOHA, QATAR
- City: DOHA, QATAR
- Country: Qatar
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001BAI7L1B
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Substitute Roberto Firmino grabbed a stoppage-time winner as Liverpool beat Mexico's Monterrey 2-1 on Wednesday (December 18) to reach the Club World Cup final, where they will play Brazil's Flamengo.
Liverpool, without centre back Virgil van Dijk, who was missing through illness and with Firmino and Sadio Mane starting on the bench, never truly imposed themselves on the game but their trademark perseverance paid off and earned them a place in Saturday's (December 21) final.
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said he was happy with his team's performance, insisting Monterrey are a good team and that the match was not a platform to show European club soccer's dominance over the rest of the world.
It was a cruel ending though for Monterrey who played with discipline and brightness on the counter-attack and could have enjoyed a famous night had it not been for the alertness of Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker.
With Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip injured, Klopp had to ask midfielder Jordan Henderson to fill in for Van Dijk alongside Joe Gomez in the centre of a makeshift defence.
There were also starts for Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi in attack, as Klopp began with two-thirds of his usual attacking trident on the bench, presumably with Saturday's final in mind.
Liverpool got off to the ideal start when they took a 12th-minute lead as Mohamed Salah split the Monterrey defence with a clever reverse pass which Naby Keita raced on to and confidently slotted home.
The lead, however, lasted only two minutes as Liverpool's defence failed to deal effectively with a high ball into the box. A shot from Jesus Gallardo was blocked, but the ball fell to Rogelio Funes Mori who fired home to make it 1-1.
Liverpool's Alisson Becker was the busier of the two goalkeepers, twice foiling the dangerous Colombian winger Dorlan Pabon before the break.
Pabon was again a threat after the interval with Becker at full stretch to keep out his sweetly-struck free kick and the Brazilian keeper also did well with a long-range effort from Funes Mori.
Yet with the game heading for extra-time, Firmino, who only came on in the 85th minute, settled the encounter.
The Brazilian turned in a low cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold at the near post, after good work from Salah, who kept the ball alive before bringing the right back into the game.
Monterrey face a two-legged Liga MX playoff final against Club America on Dec. 26 and 29.
Saturday's (December 21) final will mark a repeat of the 1981 Intercontinental Cup, the tournament's forerunner, when a Zico inspired Flamengo beat Liverpool 3-0 in Tokyo.
(Production: Abdelhadi Ramahi, Tim Hart) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
