Exclusive | Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp on his targets for next season and his frustrations with modern football
Reds are in Hong Kong to feature at the Premier League Asia Trophy alongside Crystal Palace, Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion
If Jurgen Klopp seems a little testy, it’s understandable – he landed with his Liverpool squad in Hong Kong just hours ago and has been on the media and promotional treadmill pretty much since stepping off the plane.
The German would much rather be back at Liverpool’s Melwood training ground drilling his players for a fresh tilt at the English Premier League title, but in the modern football world, “fan engagement” and “brand activation” on the other side of the globe takes precedence.
Other aspects of modern football culture, especially in England – the manic-depressive swing between euphoria and crisis, the insane transfer market, the absence of any patience – also clearly grate, though Klopp admits he wouldn’t want the salary on offer 20 years ago when things were more relaxed.
Liverpool were hugely impressive in spells last season, but couldn’t quite sustain a consistent title challenge. This season Klopp will have the added challenge of competing in the Champions League too.
Fans are already grumbling before the season even starts, with only two players, Mohamed Salah and Dominic Solanke, added to the squad so far. Both failed to make the grade at Chelsea, though the Egyptian has since starred in Italy and teenager Solanke is regarded as an England international in the making.
Klopp insists his team will be better this season, whether they add any more signings or not – though he admits he’d be crazy to try to “sell that” idea.
