It seems we are in the Champions League after all.
Adam Lallana has opened up about life under Jurgen Klopp and has described an interesting training method implemented by the German.
Whilst discussing whether having no European football gives the players more time to rest, he told Sky Sports: “No, we have our own Champions League and the manager has quoted that.”
“He says ‘City are playing Barcelona tonight, so we have our own game’. So we have our own XI v XI and it’s 100 per cent. The manager doesn’t do passive or 80 or 90 per cent – he does 100 per cent. And the minute you’re at 98 per cent, he knows and he’ll tell you.”
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If ever there was a perfect way of summing up Jurgen Klopp as a manager, then this was it.
He is turning this group of players into winners by demanding the very best from them in training and in matches.
It is no surprise that this team works as hard as it does given the amount of effort they have been putting in during the week.
Accepting nothing less than 100 per cent is what has seen us play with so much aggression and with such a desire to win this season. The players, perhaps more importantly, are refusing to accept nothing but the very best from themselves.
Having our own Champions League is clearly creating a more competitive atmosphere and is yet another sign of everyone at this club striving to compete at the top.
Let’s hope that training won’t be the only place we are playing in the Champions League next season.