Ajax 0-1 Liverpool: Jürgen Klopp’s reaction

The Reds return from Amsterdam with three points in hand after a first-half own goal by Nicolas Tagliafico decided the Group D match at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

Fabinho, operating as a mid-game center, ensured it stayed that way with a heroic goalline punt to deny Ajax captain Dusan Tadic moments before the break.

Read on for a transcript of Klopp’s post-match press conference …

On what it did to the overall performance …

This situation is pretty much the image of the game, so it wasn’t the most visually pleasing performance for both teams, I’d say. Both teams can play soccer better. But especially in this competition, when you play away, there were a lot of difficulties, practically the medical department made the lineup and then you have to win the game, and that’s what the guys did. I think it was deserved, even when we had to clear a ball off the line and when it hit the post. Of course they had their moments, but other than that we were quite dominant on a difficult field for both teams. I think everyone knows that Ajax is usually a brilliant football team, but tonight it was very difficult, the passing was difficult, so you could see it. But we won the game and I’m completely fine.

On the changes he made during the game …

Curtis was tactical. The medical department told us that Hendo can’t start and then it became pretty clear that 45 should be possible. That’s why Hendo came in and then we wanted the experience and a midfield that they would at least play a couple of times together, which helps in a game like this. The three in advance, it was seen that it was an intense match. The defensive transition was really important and if you do that, you win the ball, then you have a great opportunity for the offensive transition. It was difficult for the starting three forwards, so I was very happy that we could do it. I was really happy that we could make five changes tonight. Millie just has cramps, so that’s okay. He’ll be fine. So you can bring Rhys and it was a long dance festival and Rhys is quite strong in the air so that was good too. So some good stories in the game. Now it won’t be on the cover of our history book, but it’s important and I’m very happy with it.

On Sadio Mane with an ice pack on his leg after being retired …

Sadio has had a dead leg for a few days and takes care of it in that area. That is the only reason it is still painful, but it is not a problem. When he’s not playing, he puts ice on it.

On Fabinho’s display in the middle …

Like I said, this combination with Joey and Fabinho, I don’t think they’ve played together before if I’m 100% right. Maybe once, but I really don’t know. So they need to get used to each other, they need to get used to the verbal demands in that position, what you have to say there to help the midfielders and all these kinds of things. It was a really good performance, but there is a lot to improve: how high or how low is the last line at what point, in protective situations, in pressure, ‘How do we react there?’ But there’s no problem. For tonight it was absolutely fine and now we move on.

On the importance of ensuring a clean sheet …

It is, but we’re not dumb enough to think we didn’t need a little luck because Fabinho needed to make a proper stretch to get that ball off the line, then they hit the post. So a clean sheet is information, but we could have done better. I don’t care at the moment, we wanted to win the game, we did. But now we don’t hang the clean sheet too high because there were two situations where we were far from perfect. But that’s it and for tonight, absolutely fine. Saturday [is] a completely different challenge, Sheffield United tonight with my legs on the couch. And we need to recover now very quickly, that we will be ready for that game.

On Fabinho’s performance giving the coach and the player himself confidence in his ability as a center back …

Look, in our situation it helps. Of course, was there pressure on the situation? Yes, it is clear to the two in the back, one hundred percent. First game together. Fabinho can play the position, he actually likes to play. If I had asked him to play right back, I don’t think he would enjoy it as much as he is enjoying the midfield position. In our current situation, we have to keep those guys in shape and then of course they can help us a lot. I am not surprised that [Fabinho] he plays well in the position, otherwise we would have thought of a different solution, even when that would have been really tricky. I’m very happy for tonight, happy for him, yes, he gave him confidence, he sure helped us. These situations [goalline clearances]Millie had a season against Bournemouth last season, which was huge. That night was huge. And so not only because of this he had a great participation in this victory tonight.

On whether he was planned in advance to change his entire front three in 60 minutes and what the decision says about his faith in the depth of attack on the team …

I don’t know what he says about it, I have no doubts about the quality of the boys. Look, the game was like this, it got pretty wild, we had to really defend all together. We defended later in a 4-5-1, obviously that means both wingers have to be really involved in defense, and then the moment you win the ball, there are incredibly large spaces for the counter and we really thought it made sense. to bring fresh legs there. The three who entered are, first, in very good shape, fresh in a complicated and difficult game on a difficult field. That helps a lot and you saw that they helped a lot. Shaq won deviations, which is pretty special. Taki in both directions, amazing between the lines. And Diogo is a machine so that he can punish opponents in one-on-one situations. We had these moments, unfortunately we didn’t finish them off. But it’s completely fine, it was important to them. Now we start the group, now we have to focus on the league again and then Midtjylland is waiting after that.