Jurgen Klopp refused to question the character of Liverpool’s players after their gut-wrenching FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Manchester United, saying poor decision-making cost the Reds.
Klopp’s hopes of ending his final campaign at Anfield with a quadruple came crashing down on Sunday, with Amad Diallo scoring a last-gasp extra-time winner to cap a stunning fightback from United.
Liverpool had been both 2-1 and 3-2 up throughout a pulsating cup tie and had plenty of chances to finish United off before the 90 minutes were through.
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Darwin Nunez drew a good save from Andre Onana with Liverpool 2-1 up, while Klopp was seething on the sidelines when his team failed to score from a five-versus-two counterattack minutes later.
Speaking to BBC Sport after the game, Klopp refused to criticise his players’ mentality, saying his only regret was that they failed to put the game to bed.
“United had a really good start in the game, we didn’t. We used the time and adapted well. We were outstanding but we had to finish the game off and we didn’t,” Klopp said.
We exit the #EMIRATESFACUP. #MUNLIV PIC.TWITTER.COM/0UOH5JPY7D
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) MARCH 17, 2024
“If you’re only one goal up it’s clear your opponent is still there and we lost it in the end. I cannot ask for more. The boys gave everything.
“You have to accept the result. They deserve to go to the next round. There was a period in the second half when we should have finished it but we didn’t and we knew they could come back.
“I think my boys showed incredible character again, super effort. Everybody showed it. You cannot compare our season to United’s with the amount of games. It’s fine, we deal with it.
“How could I doubt the character of my boys? I don’t. If we use the situations, it’s game over. We didn’t and they ran through. I’m still proud of what I saw today.”
Klopp’s attention will now turn to adding the Premier League and Europa League trophies to the EFL Cup Liverpool lifted last month, with a return trip to Wembley Stadium out of the question.
The Reds are next in action against Brighton and Hove Albion on March 31, and Klopp hopes the international break allows them a chance to recover their injured players ahead of the run-in.
“They boys have to recover and we will go for everything after the international break,” he said.
“We hope they come back healthy. Lucho [Luis Diaz] felt his groin, Darwin his hamstring, Cody [Gakpo] twisted his ankle.
“They play again in four or five days, it’s crazy. Hopefully we will finish the season in style.
“I really feel for our people. In a few weeks we come again and we give it another try.”
