The fact that Manchester United secured qualification for the Champions League on Thursday evening means bad news for Liverpool. Missing out on the billion dollar ball hits Mohamed Salah hard.
Missing out on CL hits Salah hard
Liverpool has been a regular guest in the main draw of the Champions League under manager Jürgen Klopp in recent years, but will be missing next season for the first time since the 2016/17 season. The Reds put in a final sprint with seven consecutive victories in the Premier League, but drew against Aston Villa (1-1) on Saturday and can no longer catch United now that Erik ten Hag’s team won against Chelsea on Thursday evening (4-1).
And that hits Salah hard, writes the Egyptian star player on Twitter. “There are absolutely no excuses for this. We had everything this year to make it to the Champions League, but we failed. We are Liverpool and qualifying for the tournament is the least you can expect from us. I’m sorry, but now is not the time for an optimistic post. We have failed you and ourselves,” he wrote.
After six participations in a row, in which Liverpool reached the final three times and won the Champions League in 2019, the Europa League will be the podium next season. Klopp already felt the storm coming and said earlier that coming out in that tournament is not a punishment for his team. Salah still has to get used to the idea. The thirty-year-old attacker, who extended his contract last year, was a bright spot this season with thirty goals in all competitions.
Great joy in Manchester
On the other side of things, Manchester United’s Champions League qualification has resulted in great joy for the club. The Daily Mail credits Ten Hag for United’s success. “When Brighton won at Old Trafford in August, it felt like Erik ten Hag would struggle to make it to September, let alone the Champions League. It also became the last time United were beaten at home in the league. Ten Hag has lifted United to the European elite. He deserves a lot of credit for this,” they wrote.
The Independent saw Ten Hag take steps by trial and error. “His side has occasionally gone off track, but the top four finish is symbolic of United’s progress under the Dutchman. Ten Hag has made a new start and breathed new life into United. He has given United more backbone,” was their verdict.
