On the final day of the season, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp acknowledges that it is difficult for him to accept that there is nothing left to play for.
A year after losing out on an unheard-of quadruple, his team travels to already-relegated Southampton knowing that, regardless of Sunday's outcomes, they will finish fifth.
After verifying that it "makes sense" to make adjustments, he has already begun to consider it while choosing his team, but he is certain that his team will finish strongly.
"Games on the final matchday when everything is decided are not my style. I'm used to playing games where everything is on the line, but in this game, the goal is to win.
To the outside world, I want to line up a squad that is prepared for the game, the 110, 112km they must run, and all the challenges. However, I also want to line up the correct team.
We won't gamble with players because it is absurd to do so.
When Manchester United defeated Chelsea on Thursday, relegating Liverpool to the Europa League, Mohamed Salah was the first player to voice his utter disappointment at not making it into the Champions League.
After coming to that realization, Klopp acknowledges it can be challenging to see the bright side of things.
According to Klopp, the club will lose about £50 million in Champions League revenue, which is a "big problem," but he is optimistic that failing to qualify would increase motivation.
It must. That's the way we all think. We do not want this season. We have long known that," he continued.
"I genuinely believe that this was not a season we will remember. Although we didn't give the public more to enjoy, we did have our moments.If we had finished fourth—not spectacular, but still qualifying for the Champions League—it would have been a "normal" season. However, that is the major letdown.
"I've been here for seven and a half years, which is a very long time, and it's unlikely that things will always move in the right direction; there are dips. Typically, you switch managers after three years.
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