Liverpool FC | Europa League failure proves to be much needed wake-up call

Losing out at the final steps of a long journey is not new to a club like Liverpool. Athens in 2007 was perhaps the greatest of these journeys that ended in nothingness. So too perhaps was the second placed league finish in 2001-2002 under Gerard Houllier and Phil Thompson, in 2007-2008 under Rafa Benitez and more recently in 2012-13 under Brendan Rodgers.

Europa League Loss is a Reality Check

Let’s face it. There was plenty of proof all around all this while that Liverpool needed more than just an arm around the shoulder and some tactical reshuffling to get things in place. The problem is, Jurgen Klopp could have been guilty of underestimating the task at hand when he so gladly took over the reigns at the fallen club.

Who would blame him? His reinvigoration of the famous Anfield atmosphere had us all believing. We were doubters before and belief blinded even our better judgment. The likes of Lovren, Moreno, Can, Milner, Firmino, Lallana, and for a while even Mignolet seemed to be redeeming themselves, setting them selves up for the long haul at Merseyside.

“When is Philipe Coutinho ever going to deliver a consistent season?”, “Why is Alberto Moreno the first choice and why do we not possess a better quality backup left back in the mix?”, “Why do Liverpool switch off so often, let alone in a European Cup Final” and “What will it take for us to win a trophy?” will be at the very top of a list which has been often put forward but never really fully answered.

Liverpool will now take a realistic view at the transfer window

Imagine going through the summer without getting upgrades on Alberto Moreno now, or Dejan Lovren, Simon Mignolet and Adam Lallana. Imagine us going through a summer now without preparing for the eventuality that neither Can nor Coutinho would achieve what is asked of them.

Had Liverpool won the Europa League Final, the truth is, the club and fans may have accepted the above outcomes on the back of success that has been achieved, without addressing the underlying issues. Not that any doubts are being raised over the ability of Jurgen Klopp and his staff, or to their ability to recognize a problem and address it, but with greater fan interest in these ‘issues’ and with the owners having witnessed the dismantling of their assembled side against a quality Sevilla side, the focus will be strong on these matters, and Jurgen will need to think through all of these matters more urgently.

Liverpool Players Have Some Growing Up to Do

Jurgen Klopp’s record in finals could well be the elephant in the room, but the truth remains that his young side gave a poor account of themselves across two finals. The drive and energy may have been present in this really young side but the calm, discipline and ability to respond to pressure wasn’t.

Philipe Coutinho dropped his shoulders and this time not to dribble past his opponents, while Roberto Firmino looked on haplessly after 45 minutes of ruthless aggression. These players seemed to know only one way of looking at a game of this magnitude, with relentless aggression.

It becomes a problem when their aggression is met with equally indomitable spirit on the other side. These are the moments when you need to be clever. Emre Can should’ve managed his game better. He was out for 3 weeks with Ankle Ligament damage and without match conditioning, he would’ve never lasted a whole 90 with his mind and body willing equally, and he didn’t. Alberto Moreno should’ve been less on the front foot while defending and needed to stop trying too hard on an emotional night and kept the basics clear instead. Dejan Lovren should’ve known the value of patience in a game when decisions are not going your way. Firmino and Coutinho could’ve dropped deeper to build the ball out of midfield when they were in possession instead of trying to race out of the blocks on repossession.

Jurgen Klopp took his entire Mainz team to an Island in Sweden Lake quite famously to live without electricity and ready-made food in order to make men out of the boys he was training. The team, newly promoted to the Bundesliga that season finished the season 11th in the table when most would’ve primed them for relegation.

While perhaps an outing as outlandish may not be necessary, but the same ideal needs to be imprinted into their minds. The boys need to grow into men.

Jurgen Klopp is reputed to have the mind of a realist who accepts the problems in a situation well enough to ruthlessly start fixing them. It is no accident but destiny that the problems of this young squad were made apparent on the night, and Klopp will have no doubt paid heed to them.

Klopp Summed it all up succinctly in the post game interview:.

“The team will be a different team, that is clear, and we will do something with transfers—that’s sure.”

“They are still young and this was their first big final — unfortunately their second (losing) final of the season, but it was a big final and we will use this experience together. Then someday everybody will say Basel was a very decisive moment for the wonderful future of Liverpool FC.”

The last time Liverpool had no European football to bother them, most of this young squad with a few mature heads nearly achieved something special. Perhaps Jurgen Klopp can take the boys, turn them into men and take us the distance this time.