Jurgen Klopp says he is “proud” of his Liverpool side for their efforts after a testing week despite Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Chelsea.
The result means Liverpool now need a win against Brighton and Hove Albion on the final day of the Premier League season to finish in the top four and guarantee a spot in next season’s Champions League regardless of the result of this month’s final against Real Madrid.
Olivier Giroud’s first-half header was the difference at Stamford Bridge and leaves Liverpool without a victory in their last three league games.
However, Klopp remained positive after the defeat, choosing to praise his depleted team after a week that saw them secure a place in the Champions League final following the trip to Roma.
“I didn’t think Chelsea looked much fresher than we did,” he told a news conference. “It is an intense period and if you want to be successful the decisions are made in the last part of the season.
“Yes, of course, there was influence — everything is influenced by the games during the week, that’s normal. I am really proud of the boys to be honest; ‘proud’ is the word because, again, they really invested everything.
“There is one moment I am really disappointed, not happy, angry with and it was the goal. Clearly, we should not concede another goal like this. It was clear, the plan — cut back, cross, soft cross and Giroud is there.
“It was clear we had to avoid these situations and I feels like we only had to avoid it once more in the game and then we would have the draw, which would feel completely different. With the rest, I am absolutely fine.”
