[EL] FC Augsburg (H): Build Up

[Yozza]

No thread for this yet? People getting ahead of themselves with the cup final....

V

Liverpool v Augsburg
Anfield
25 Feb 2016 18:00
Europa League

Live on BT Sport

Liverpool will contest the second leg of their Europa League last-32 tie against Augsburg at Anfield on Thursday night.

The aggregate score stands at 0-0 following a stalemate in the first meeting in Germany.

The fixture is the Reds' final outing before the Capital One Cup final with Manchester City at Wembley.


Klopp shares latest team news for Augsburg tie

Jürgen Klopp provided an update on Joe Allen, Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren as he revealed the latest team news ahead of Liverpool's Europa League clash with Augsburg.

The Reds host the Bundesliga side on Thursday night in the second leg of a knockout tie which is goalless on aggregate following the opening meeting in Germany last week.

Klopp and Daniel Sturridge fielded questions from the media at a pre-match press conference today, and the manager explained why the aforementioned trio are currently unavailable.

He said: “We have a few things. Dejan was one day in training, now he’s ill, that’s not too good. Joe Allen is in a good way but not available, Adam Lallana is in a good way but not available for tomorrow.

“Of course, Martin Skrtel is not available and Ingsy and [Joe] Gomez are not available. That’s clear. We have to look at who can play on Thursday then we have two other days to think about the Manchester City game.

“Especially for players who didn’t play for a long time – like Phil [Coutinho] and Daniel – it’s very important to play them for rhythm.

“You saw they are back but it’s not at the consistent highest level. That’s absolutely normal. They could take a rest and we wait for the highest level or work for it; I prefer working for it and that’s what we try to do.”

What the boss will not be doing, however, is allowing Sunday’s Capital One Cup final at Wembley to affect his decision-making when selecting a line-up to face Augsburg.

“It’s pretty easy because life makes the rules,” he added. “If you think about the second step before you make the first step, you will always fall down. So there’s no other chance.

“We have to be fully concentrated and give everything for this game. If we think, for example, to leave this player out then for sure he will be injured in a training session. So it’s not allowed.

“We have to be fully concentrated on this game and then go to the next one. That’s how we select the team. The only other thing we have to think about is who is available?”

Klopp and his squad had a rare break from matches last weekend, with many of the players afforded time off after an intensive run of competitive action in the past few months.

The German said: “Usually we should have used the whole time to train but after this long period without days off, we had to give a lot of players two days off.

“Saturday and Sunday they were off and we started again on Monday. We could train on Monday and Tuesday and tonight completely normally. That’s very important for us.

“We’ve had a little bit of time for recovery and a few sessions for getting better, which is important. That’s what we did. Usually we have one day off in a normal week, we had two days. It is like it is.”

[Yozza]

Jürgen on first-leg lessons, Augsburg tactics and more

Jürgen Klopp previewed Liverpool's Europa League last-32 second leg against FC Augsburg with a press conference for reporters at Melwood on Wednesday afternoon - here are some of the boss' key points.

On learning from the first leg...

"We have to focus on getting through to the next round, people are talking about the final but tomorrow is the most important thing. I think, looking back, the players have to learn from last week. In this competition we have got big aims which also relies on equal performances and that's what we have to show again tomorrow against Augsburg."

On Augsburg playing at the weekend...

"I don't think that's a decisive thing. They had a chance to rotate some of their players so I don't think that's decisive. It is just the way it worked out that we didn't play on Sunday but that's not going to make a huge difference."

On Markus Weinzierl's tactics...

"[Augsburg] are a danger, especially if they score [and] make the situation very difficult. Obviously, the situation is very clear to us, it's all part of the game. There is no reason to play to FC Augsburg's game. We want to assert ourselves and play our game. I think they are also not simply a counter-attacking team [and] they have other means of attacking so there's nothing new there. Their game at the weekend against Hannover, they didn't play a counter-attacking game. They played a completely different way so it is not that straightforward. We are aware of the quality of Augsburg, perhaps we didn't do as well as we should have last week but then it is down to us to prove [we can] tomorrow night."

On Daniel Sturridge...

“That’s how he [has been] in the last few weeks in training [relaxed]. I agree with everything he said but it was not my plan in Augsburg to play at not the highest speed! Maybe I have to improve my English or to take an interpreter. It's clear we have to do more and [be] better than the first game. It was [also] interesting to hear what you asked [Daniel] - he was completely relaxed. I thought for the first time you were more excited than the player at the opportunity to ask Daniel Sturridge a few questions. But it's good, I think a few things are more clear now before and I think that’s what we need in this situation. I heard from him - not second or third hand - a lot of times [that his] future [is at] LFC. And I don't know another LFC so I think he means Liverpool Football Club. So everything is fine and you can now stop thinking about this, that's good for you, good for us. He is a really good football player and now he’s able to play and that's what we all want to see the whole time."

[Yozza]

Daniel Sturridge addresses media ahead of Augsburg clash

Daniel Sturridge fielded questions from the media at a pre-Augsburg press conference at Melwood on Wednesday afternoon. Here's a full transcript of what the striker had to say...

Daniel, you look happy to be back. How ready are you to play two big games in the space of four days?

It’s important for everyone to be ready, not just myself. It’s a collective for the team to be ready for the two games ahead. We’re prepared for it, we’re ready for them and it’s important to go out there with the right mentality and hopefully we’ll get the jobs done.

As well as dealing with your recovery, there’s recently been speculation about your future. What did you make of it and, overall, what was the time out like for you?

I think it’s important to worry about the present. Of course, it’s been a difficult time being injured, but it’s part of football. Now I am looking forward to the future, of course with Liverpool. There’s not really much to worry about or stress about in the situation – I’m pretty relaxed and I’ve been relaxed the whole time. I am happy here.

You’ve got your family and close friends around you, but how important have your Liverpool family been around you in terms of getting to this point?

I’ve always had my family with me, my friends and Liverpool – and it’s about football at the end of the day. Nothing more, nothing less. I’m happy to be playing and that’s all that matters.

With you being on social media, you might be aware of some of the things that people have said about you. Some of the suggestions have been that you haven’t wanted to play – there has even been the suggestion that your religious beliefs [might be a reason]. I know that’s nonsense, but how does that questioning make you feel?

I don’t listen to social media, so I’m not aware to be honest. It’s surprising. I didn’t know religion had anything to do with football, firstly. As a child, you don’t think about those things. To say a player doesn’t want to play is the biggest disrespect you could ever say to any individual footballer, to be honest. It’s astonishing and disappointing, [from] whoever is saying it. It’s very disappointing to hear that from whoever says it, but it’s football and people are entitled to their opinions. All I can say is I don’t think anybody will understand how much it means to me to play football. As I said, I will continue to do my best and focus on playing for Liverpool Football Club – and that’s all that matters.

Can you give us an insight into how difficult it has been in the last couple of months? Was last season more difficult in terms of the injuries, or has this been even more problematic?

You know what, in life there are times where you have great periods and there are times where you have difficult periods. It’s in every walk of life, not just football but in every normal job. People go through difficult times. It’s how you come out of those, it’s how you deal with those situations. I’ve never worried about it, to be honest. A lot of people talk, I don’t listen. I worry about what I can do, I worry about how my family feel. I am blessed by God. I have no worries at all – zero stresses. I am just happy. I am a happy guy and I am blessed. Where I have come from, I have come a long way from Hockley in Birmingham and my roots, Jamaican. My family is blessed, I am blessed, I am good.

Daniel, when you were in recovery the club gave you a new deal. Can you talk about the frustration that you haven’t been able to play since then, really, and whether you feel you maybe owe the club a little bit as well to show what you can do on the pitch because you’re such a star player?

I’m very ambitious. I am very determined to help Liverpool have some success. I am totally focused and, of course, I want to be on the pitch playing every game – just like every player wants to. It hurts to not be able to play – I’d be lying if I said that [it didn’t]. You have to be strong in these situations and it’s important to understand that I am not somebody who is at the house chilling, laughing and joking, going out with my friends, living life to the fullest when I am not playing. I am devastated, I’m at home, in my house, I am not enjoying life, I am not happy, I am not stress free. I am at home devastated, sitting in the stands devastated, watching my teammates play. It hurts to hear what people have said second and third hand because, as I said, I don’t listen or hear anything. Some of the things people say about me, I can probably say a lot of them aren’t the truth. All I want to do is play football and help this team have success. That’s the most important thing to me – nothing else matters.

[Yozza]

Boss: We need to help Sturridge find his rhythm

Jürgen Klopp has expressed delight over Daniel Sturridge's return to action and says the striker's focus is now on finding the rhythm that can bring about his best form.

The 26-year-old has started the Reds' last two fixtures against Aston Villa and FC Augsburg after overcoming a series of injury problems, and is in contention to face the latter again at Anfield on Thursday.

Sturridge's initial comeback at Villa Park resulted in him finding the net again, but his manager knows there is still a lot more to come.

Klopp now wants to ensure the No.15 plays consistently in the coming weeks to regain the sharpness that will allow him to operate at maximum capacity for the remainder of the season.

"It’s good to have him back, there's no doubt. But even a player like Daniel needs rhythm and that's what we try to give him," the German said at a press conference to preview the Reds' Europa League last-32, second-leg meeting with Augsburg.

"You can always think about leaving him out but he has to start games, that’s pretty important to get the best shape and that's what we try together.

"It's absolutely the opposite to not [having him available].

"Not even Daniel Sturridge can give the best performances like this [instantly], he needs to play football, he needs to do things on the pitch, and then he will be happy altogether."

Klopp also admitted Thursday's game is a last chance for a number of players to force their way into his plans for the Capital One Cup final against Manchester City on Sunday.

But the Reds boss was keen to emphasise the importance of keeping the weekend trip to Wembley far from the players' thoughts.

"It’s an opportunity to prove that they can start. That’s how it should be," he added.

"It's a football game, we want to win - everyone can say it but we have to show it. That’s all I can say and then we make decisions.

"You cannot say stay outside, watch the game and we can keep you [fresh]. We have to show that we are able to 100 per cent be concentrated in this game, and then we will have a real good chance in the final.

"But if we give this game away and say, 'we have a final on the weekend', then in my opinion we don't deserve [to win the final].

"We could lose tomorrow because Augsburg are strong - I know you don't think this - but you can lose. But you have to show you tried everything and if you try everything then it's okay and you deserve [victories].

"Life is really fair: if you give all, you don't get all [every] time but it's the only chance to get something. I hope it’s not a test, I hope we show we want to win this game and then finish the game and think about the next one."

[Bender]

Ok let's kick this thread up a notch......
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZcvkOmpMKI"]Liverpool vs. Augsburg - Jurgen Klopp pre-match press-conference - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LzTmdGeWZw"]Liverpool vs. Augsburg - Jurgen Klopp’s Pre-Match Press Conference - YouTube[/ame]
[ame]https://twitter.com/LFCphoto/status/702548667610308610[/ame] [ame]https://twitter.com/LFCphoto/status/702551010385010689[/ame]

[redmike65]

That was the dullest pre game presser I've ever sat through - bloody Germans speaking German words which are almost gratuitously long and the bloody translation. 10 minutes ending up as a half hour

As for the actual match - its got to be treated (cliche alert) as a Cup final in its own right. Play the best 11 available and then hope for an early breakthrough.

No Lallana presumably means Coutinho, Firmino and Sturridge will all start with three from Lucas, Can, Milner and Henderson in the middle and we know what happened last week in that regard.

[SB]

An early goal or two to settle the nerves please lads, oh & no extra time either.

[BobTheCharmer]

****ing 18.00 start?

[Fosterbloke]

****ing 18.00 start?

4am kick-off for me!

[BobTheCharmer]

4am kick-off for me!

You live on the wrong side of the planet, it's to be expected.

[Fosterbloke]

You live on the wrong side of the planet, it's to be expected.

Depends on what you want from life

[BigChief]

Depends on what you want from life

To look down on any creepy crawly and snort: "you can't do **** to me".

[Maxiedge]

Skrtels ****ing **** and it's depressing how the club are spinning it as some sort of good news that he'll be back from injury soon.

We've been much better defensively since he's been out. It's clear as day.

[Assassin]

Depends on what you want from life

I'm also happy with the outcome of the restraining order on you

[Fosterbloke]

i'm also happy with the outcome of the restraining order on you :d

wtf?