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By PA Media
Last Updated: 08/28/20 11:14 pm
1:06
Jurgen Klopp has ruled out Liverpool attempting to sign Lionel Messi this summer, but thinks it would be ‘great’ for the Premier League if the Barcelona forward moves to England.
Jurgen Klopp claims that the best way for Liverpool to defend their Premier League title is to attack next.
Liverpool ended a 30-year wait for the title last season after a remarkable campaign in which they racked up 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.
0:44 Klopp says he does not expect the Premier League to follow the top sports teams and players in the United States and boycott matches in protest of continuing racial injustices.
“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 do 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.
3:35 A summary of transfers from the 20 Premier League clubs on The Transfer Show
He said: “When I got here I was really surprised how much a game against Liverpool means to other teams, even when we weren’t considered the 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.
“They all wanted to beat us, obviously, for good reason. [Although] not many could do it, I don’t think that will change.
“If we think that because we are champions they want to beat us even more, then we have already lost a small percentage of our focus, mood, attitude and all that. I’m not ready for that.”
Liverpool kick off their Premier League title defense against Leeds, live on Sky
The season is off to a disjointed start for Liverpool, beginning just five weeks after their final 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, it is the first time he leaves it is a good boy that worries you 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.”
Klopp: There is no possibility that Liverpool will sign Messi
2:38 Lionel Messi has requested a meeting with the Barcelona board
Klopp has ruled out Liverpool signing Lionel Messi this summer, but admits the Barcelona forward would be a “great” addition to the Premier League if he moves to an English club.
Messi has told Barcelona that he wants to exercise a clause in his contract, which allows him to leave for free with immediate effect, but the La Liga club believes that it has expired and the player is signed until 2021 with a termination clause of 626 million euros. pounds (700 million euros). .
Asked if Liverpool would like to sign the Argentine international, Klopp replied: “Interest? Who doesn’t want to have Messi in their team? But no chance. The numbers are not for us. But a good player, to be honest! “
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