Jurgen Klopp debunks League Cup myth and reveals when he was ‘really afraid’ at Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp has quashed talk that he “couldn’t be bothered” about the League Cup and revealed he was “really afraid” ahead of the their last major final appearance.

Klopp’s Liverpool reached the final of the League Cup in February 2016, just five months after taking over the reins. His side which included present-day players James Milner, Jordan Henderson and Roberto Firmino were beaten by Man City on penalties.

Since then the Carabao Cup has not been such a happy tournament despite a semi-final appearance this season after, with third and fourth round exits common place. Their record has led to a common misconception that Klopp has no time for the competition.

But the German boss has been quick to deny that as his Reds seek a record-breaking ninth League Cup triumph when they take on Chelsea in Sunday’s final at Wembley.

Klopp has vowed to stick with No.2 keeper Caoimhin Kelleher for the final, a decision Jamie Carragher cannot understand.

But the likes of Thiago Alcantara, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Luis Diaz could all get their first appearances in the tournament this season on Sunday. As Klopp gets serious about wining some silverware.

And speaking ahead of the final, as cited by the Liverpool Echo: “I’m sure since we worked together you thought once or twice that I couldn’t be bothered about the Carabao Cup, I know that.

“I wish you would have been once in my situation between two other games making a decision about the team for this one game and considering all the information I had from the medical department.

“And then you say afterwards, ‘you obviously don’t want to win it’. No. I just collect the bones and use the last of the few guys we have.

“Usually we go out pretty early, and it’s a time when we play every three minutes. Then you have the wrong draw.

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“Size-wise our squad has been like it is now for the past two or three years. The only problem is they were never all available. That means you have to bring in all the kids and then you draw a tough team away. Congratulations!

“That’s nothing to do with not wanting to win the competition. It just means we have to consider all the other stuff as well.”

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Klopp: I just fell asleep

Klopp was asked how he approaches big games and he admitted ahead of the 2019 Champions League final he was more than anxious.

The Reds boss said: “Nervous is not the right word. I get tense.

“Before the Champions League final (in 2019) I was really afraid as losing two Champions League finals is not nice. I was really afraid of being alone beforehand, sitting in a room trying to prepare a meeting.

“Then you sit there for three or four hours, it’s a late game, trying to prepare the game and you would just go nuts.

“But I just fell asleep. That was really cool. I was really happy with myself!

“I hope I have the same mindset (on Sunday). But in the end, the boys will decide it.

“I will try to help as much as I can with all I know from the past and about the future, but in the end the boys will decide it.

“Players are not nervous. Players want to play. That’s my feeling as well, the only problem is I can’t play. You can prepare the meeting as good as you can and play as good as you can and accept the consequences.”

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