Jürgen, there seems to be a lot of affection at the football club, certainly among the fans,
for Rafa Benitez, I just wonder how you view his legacy here?
I met Rafa once when he was manager of Liverpool.
We beat him 5-0 with Mainz.
Hopefully he remembers that.
So the rest is history, the big success,
and actually, we met meanwhile, for sure,
10, 15 times in different occasions,
and it was always really nice with him.
He's a very, very interesting person, so we always had a good time.
I know he is still connected, not only because he still lives around here,
he's really connected to the club still and wishes this club all the best,
and that's how it should be after the fantastic time he had here.
So, yeah, even in pre-season and the summer break we had talks,
and so, for sure I know him better than most of the other colleagues in the Premier League,
and it's nice, but it has not the biggest impact I think on the game.
I've been looking at omens ahead of this weekend -
this fixture has never seen a goalless draw in 44 Premier League meetings.
Daniel Sturridge has scored in all four of his Premier League starts
at St James' Park as well, scoring five in that time...
That's much more important information than the first one, but OK.
But looking at your current record in front of goal, in this month...
what is costing you, do you feel - is it confidence among individuals,
is it concentration, is there anything more that you can do as manager
to make your side more clinical?
Oh, to make us more clinical? No, I cannot, always the last step, the players have to,
there's not a word I could say and then we finalise all the very good situations we create.
No. But like it always is in life and in football, you really have to keep on going.
That's how it is, you have to do it again and again and again.
The things we have influence on, we speak about it, but there are a lot of situations...
Do you really think I should speak about the two headers Roberto had
and the other one Mo Salah had in the game against Moscow,
and say, "Look, if you hit it a little bit more this..."?
That's not how it works, so we need to come in these situations,
and we all know these boys will score.
The difficult thing in a situation like this is to STAY confident,
to do it again and again and again.
Because that's kind of an average situation if you want, and our goalscoring record
from an average moment there are two directions.
Less than average or better than average,
and of course my work is to help the boys that we do it better,
and that's how to...
It makes no sense to criticise finishing, it's about creating,
and using the qualities of the boys in the right moment,
but we talk more about how we can create more. More often.
So that's what it is in situations like this. The situation now, "this pass is not the right one"
and stuff like this, but that's how it always is.
It's still my responsibility, but I cannot shoot from the bench.
But to help them to get in the position, yes, that's my job.
So highlighting the positives as well - 5th in the Premier League, five points off the top,
unbeaten in the Champions League.
How much of a foundation is that for a successful season?
It's the foundation, it's our basis, and that's what we want to use.
And...
HE EXHALES
And actually, it says nothing about the Newcastle game, so we have to go there,
we have to sort our smaller or bigger problems, whatever,
we have to make a line-up and we have to respect Newcastle.
I had the opportunity to see the full game against Brighton last week,
watched it - good team, well organised, unlucky with the goal I would say...
Or it was a wonderful goal in the end, but there was a lot of discussion about
was it a penalty or not, was it a foul or not?
And so that was of course a little bit unlucky, and yes, we know about their quality.
But the situation, points, we knew immediately, Moscow felt like a defeat.
But it wasn't a defeat. And then afterwards you knew, we know more about Moscow,
we know more about Sevilla. Two points, it doesn't sound too well, but you're right,
everything is still possible for us.
11 points doesn't sound perfect, but on the other side,
it's not that we cannot see the other teams anymore.
But it's only the basis which we have to use.
Jürgen, on that subject then, is it purely the way
that the two Manchester clubs have started the season
why you're getting this extra criticism? Do you think a lot of it is unfair,
the criticism of the club at the moment?
No. I'm not interested in the criticism, I'm more interested in the thoughts of the people.
So if pundits, journalists, whatever criticise us, that should not have any effect,
that's kind of the job, that's normal. There are obviously a few teams flying,
so does it mean the other teams should not try to fly also?
Do we all have to give up and say, "They're so good this year, oh, my God.
"I really want to have a season ticket for Manchester, whichever stadium",
or is it allowed that we really still try to sort our things and to improve?
With all the problems we had so far, we have 11 points.
So think what could happen if we don't,
if we sort our problem. I have no problem with criticism,
I only have a problem if people think we cannot sort our things.
So that's all, what I still want to let the people know, we are really working hard,
it's not like we lost our football knowledge overnight or something like this.
We know where we have to do better and that's what we are working on,
but what the Manchester clubs are doing? Two fantastic clubs, sorry to say this,
fantastic teams, fantastic managers, it's clear that they will do really well,
and Chelsea - still a good side. Tottenham - oh, my God. Arsenal - on a good way.
Other teams obviously improving. Stuff like this, that's the football world, no problem.
But the only thing we can do is really to work on our football and what we are doing,
so...not perfect so far, but that's the past already,
let's try to make it better in the next game.
When we talk about pressure and expectation with big clubs - and I know you've been linked
with Bayern Munich - which I'm sure we don't need to talk about,
I'm sure we all know the answer to that one -
Carlo Ancelotti, how surprised were you to see him lose his job
so early in the season at Bayern Munich?
Not a lot of things in this business can surprise me anymore, to be honest.
But I have no clue what Bayern's thoughts were behind this decision.
I saw the game against PSG because I thought it was really interesting to watch it,
and it's how football is, individual quality can decide games,
and that night was like this.
But at the end, it was not one game, I think it was kind of a development
which the Bayern bosses did not like too much, and that's why they made the decision.
I THINK - I have no clue actually why they did it.
But it's not my problem. So we will see how it works now,
Carlo is a very, very experienced manager
and I'm sure even he didn't lose his football knowledge overnight,
but sometimes it doesn't fit together, that's how it is,
if Bayern has now a better future with another manager, congratulations.
And Carlo, for sure, if he wants to carry on he will find a fantastic club
and can show again what kind of manager he is,
so there are bigger problems in the world at this moment
I think than the fact that Bayern sacked Carlo Ancelotti.
Jürgen, there are a few Christmas cards and decorations in the shops already,
I'm just wondering what your thoughts were
with this talk of moving your fixture against Arsenal to Christmas Eve?
Who gets this game, if...?
MUFFLED REPLY
Well...
I'm...
HE SIGHS
Let me say it like this - we...
Probably it's like this, if the supporters want to see a game on Christmas Eve,
yeah, then probably the television broadcaster will find a way to deliver it.
Obviously they have found a way already,
I didn't know before that there is a date that's possible,
but now I know it's possible, and how it was in the last few years,
if something not too cool is possible around fixtures, then Liverpool is involved!
So in this moment it would mean that we not only play the night of the 24th,
it also would mean that we again play four games in nine days -
pretty much the worst you can get. I always said...
..that the broadcasters have to consider that the wonderful thing they sell -
and give a lot of monies to the clubs, 100 per cent -
depends on the players, depends on the quality of the players,
the freshness of the players, so if we have to play the 24th of December,
I'm not sure we can fight against it, but Sky then has to make a decision,
if they really want to do this, if they really want to bring supporters on the street that night,
if they really want to bring all of the people that work for television
away from home on that night.
We are the last one in this role to say something about the decision.
I really think it's no problem for the people to be concentrated, on very important nights,
on something other than football. For us, it's not a normal time,
so if we don't play the 24th then probably we will play the 25th or 26th,
I'm not sure, so it's still Christmas for our families but not for us.
We are used to it, but if you want to think about all the other people, you involved,
who has to go there, a few of you...
Or maybe we play without media, because they all have Christmas. That would be nice.
Just one camera.
LAUGHTER
JOURNALIST WHO ASKED QUESTION: No press conference.
Yeah.
I really cannot imagine that anybody wants to watch football on that night,
but...I'm not so important.
Just back on football matters, to go back on Tuesday,
you played Coutinho, Firmino, Mane and Salah together, starting for the first time,
I know you spoke about how that went and how much work needs to be done with them,
but how do you see that combination working
and how much work needs to be done with them?
I really don't think this game is the game to judge this, it's a likely and possible...
..combination of the line-up. Obviously Sadio had nine or ten days no football games,
little lack of rhythm, still good situations, but not as good as could be,
that's how it is after these kind of breaks.
Roberto - working unbelievably hard, good moments, a few unlucky moments.
Phil - yes, in a very good moment, and Mo - in a very good moment,
so that's the truth, that's the story of that game,
but we have different options, all four in the best moment is an unbelievable threat,
but we can win nothing without the other six on the pitch.
So like I said, the big improvement of this team
in the moment is that we really create a lot,
we had a lot of talks in the last two years
when we played against sides that are only defending,
that we don't create enough - that's changed.
We made a big step in this. So far, it doesn't lead to the results we want,
but you cannot create bigger chances.
We scored goals from much more difficult situations than we missed so far,
and that's all. In different line-ups as well, we played without Sadio and we won.
Did we? Oh, yes, Leicester.
And we created without Sadio, we created without Phil,
and for sure we created without Roberto and without Mo,
so we have different line-ups and different opportunities,
so as long as they are all fit, I have to make the choice.
Regarding the international break coming up...
Sorry?
The international break is coming up, as you're well aware,
Ben Woodburn has been selected in the Wales senior squad again,
I'm just wondering about what you think that will do for his development, playing for Wales,
and also in the...
Fantastic, it's fantastic. A lot of things could be...
..not too positive in this situation. Ben is a fantastic boy, outstanding skills,
and very young still. And so now you play for Wales and you come back,
and if the boy would now misunderstand this situation, it would be a problem.
But he is just fantastic. We had a very good - even though it was very short - talk about it,
I wanted to explain why the situation here is different, he said, "No, no, boss, I know."
All good. So he loves playing in the U19 Champions League,
having the role he has there, yes, fighting for a little advantage in this game,
with boys the same age, playing U23, training with us, and he doesn't expect in this moment,
he takes each minute as a fantastic opportunity to help whichever team.
That's the best ground and the best basis to have a really, really nice career,
which he for sure will have.
How we all think - not hope - we all think his career will be here,
but he still has a lot of things to learn, but I'm really happy for him and for Wales,
that they really have this fantastic opportunity to bring him from the start
or have him as a sub is really cool,
because he was obviously a big influence in the last two games.
Big, big influence, and hopefully he can do so again.
Are there any injury concerns ahead of the game?
No concerns, but it was quite an intense game, so we have a few knocks, we will see.
But in this moment, no concerns, but I will know finally...tomorrow probably.
I know you've spoken a lot about Philippe Coutinho this summer,
I'm not going to go there, but how pleasing to see - when we talk about players' attitudes -
to see him back in a Liverpool shirt, smiling, scoring goals?
Scored in back-to-back games for you and clearly going to be a huge part
of your season, the way that you and the club have handled that situation.
It's just good to have him, that's the only thing,
I don't think we have to talk about how who handled which situation,
there were obviously a few ways, the club decided this way
and we are professionals, we take it like it is.
I was very pleased from the first second he was back, as you can imagine,
but we had no real idea how he would be after this injury break,
and a few more days with the national team, we didn't know, but he came back
and was in fantastic shape, and obviously IS in really good shape,
so that's good for us, that's the only thing that's important, and, yes,
the team, the others, they were really happy when he was back,
no difficult discussions about why and what, it's professional football,
we are not non-league football anymore.
There are offers for different players and that's how it is,
and sometimes people think about it, and sometimes not. That's absolutely normal.
But being where you are, with 100 per cent, when the decisions are made,
that's the only way life works, and football is no different to that.
He is here with 100 per cent and that's really cool.
Jürgen, can you just give us an update on the recoveries
of Adam Lallana and Nathaniel Clyne, please?
Yes, the update is - both doing really well, but are not in team training tomorrow,
but both are in a really good way.
With Clyney, it was for one or two weeks not too sure,
but now he's made real steps, and it's really cool,
and Adam is completely normal,
that's how it was from the first day, how we thought it would be,
and he's now outside running and improves a lot. He has no problems anymore,
we just have to wait until the tendon is... a tendon again, if you want.
So you cannot rush in this, but so far, no setbacks, everything fine.