“The way we do business and the way our ownership works – of course you are relying on Champions League money, but not so much because we do our things really well,” says Lijnders.
“If we do not have it, we don’t do it. If we have it, we do. Sometimes it is because salaries are going away when players go, so this can make a big difference to whether you do things or not. If you see it when it happens it is more complex than you think. Champions League money is about a lot of things.”
New leadership group sets standards
Jordan Henderson and James Milner were the leaders for the previous eight years. When they left in the summer, Klopp handed Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold senior roles. Lijnders says he knew the captain and vice-captain would lead the way on and off the pitch and that the side would elevate itself back to where it is accustomed to being.
“I felt that from last season already [that the group was special] and the moment we started making the signings, and then when we started deciding the leadership group and the captain,” says Lijnders.
“When Virgil was captain I knew he needed that responsibility and would step up again. We needed him at his best for the way we play – with many times both full-backs jumping, stepping up and pressing. We needed him and Ibou [Ibrahima Konate], Joel [Matip], Jarell [Quansah] in a really good way.
“What does not often get seen is our centre-halves are playing much better with the ball. If you look at how close they play to the offence and how they are stepping in with the outside or inside pass, they are playing to a level we needed. They are making a big, big difference.
“A lot of key players went, seniors who were always the leaders, so new players had to step up – Mo Salah, Virgil, Alisson, Trent – and they did. There was a voice in their head saying ‘We want to be successful and so we have to go through this’.
“These things help, these things are crucial, but then you have to have success. You need to win games when you think that maybe you are not going to win them. Newcastle away [in August] was a massive one. That creates momentum. Winning helps.”
