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Jurgen Klopp (Getty Images)
Jurgen Klopp claims that the best way to defend one title is to attack the next.
The Liverpool manager wants his team to rush into the new Premier League campaign.
The Reds ended a 30-year wait for the title last season after an outstanding campaign in which they added 32 wins and 99 points.
Overcoming that would be a remarkable achievement, but Klopp feels that’s the goal his players should have.
He feels they showed that mindset last year after racking up 97 points and winning the Champions League in 2018-19 and he wants to see the same thing again.
“We will not try to defend him, we will try to attack the next one,” said the German, whose team will launch its new campaign against FA Cup champions Arsenal on Saturday at the Community Shield.
“That’s the truth, you don’t change your focus. That is what we always did and there is no reason to change it.
“Motivation will not be our problem. I know this team will not stop trying.
“I don’t expect everything to happen to me, I never expected it, but I hope to give absolutely everything, and I hope the boys will too.”
Liverpool will have to deal with the label of being champion, which could provide opponents with additional motivation, but Klopp feels he’s well used to dealing with it anyway.
He said: “When I got here, I was very surprised how much a game against Liverpool means to other teams, even when we weren’t seen as Liverpool of the past, seventh or eighth in the league.
“When we got to the stadium, I thought, ‘Wow, they really have.’
“That has never changed, so I’m not sure we can have a bigger goal on our backs than we already had last season.
“Everyone wanted to beat us, obviously, for good reason. (Although) not many were able to do it, I don’t think that will change.
“If we think that because we’re champions they want to beat us even more, then we’ve already lost a small percentage of our focus, mood, attitude and all that. I’m not ready for that.”
The season is off to a disjointed start for Liverpool, beginning just five weeks after their last glorious campaign concluded. They have returned to training for just fifteen days and after the Community Shield their preparations will be further interrupted by the loss of several players due to international duty.
In light of the current situation regarding the coronavirus and international travel, Klopp admits to being concerned, although he fully trusts national associations.
He said, “I don’t want to use the word worried and see this in a headline. I know everyone does everything they can to keep children safe, but if a 16-year-old leaves, for the first time, even when he is a good boy you worry a little.
“I’d like to keep them here, not to train, just because we know what we’re doing, but I’m really sure all the AFs will try to make sure the guys are in a safe place.”
– TEAMtalk Media
