Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard insists he remains focused on winning trophies for the Reds - but is adamant their league form must improve.
Gerrard last week admitted his side's failure to challenge for the Premier League title meant the season was destined to end in disappointment, regardless of whether they managed to win the Champions League.
Yet Gerrard claims the Champions League element of his comments was overplayed, as he would dearly love to get his hands on Europe's elite trophy again.
Liverpool face Inter Milan in the San Siro, with a 2-0 advantage from the first leg, for a place in the quarter-finals next week.
Gerrard, the inspiration behind the Reds' 2005 success in the competition, told the club's website: "The message I was trying to get across was that we are disappointed with where we are in the league, but that we're going to try to get into the top four and improve our league situation next season.
"Hopefully while we're going along we can get to another Champions League final. That would be a really good season.
"But the headlines got twisted into 'If we win the Champions League it won't be important' - which is nonsense. That is not what I meant at all.
"There won't be anyone happier in Liverpool than me if we do win the Champions League again.
"Istanbul was the best night of my football career and if we go on to achieve that again it will be right up there with that.
"But, because we're Liverpool Football Club, even if we do win it, we'll still worry about and try to improve our league form. We are winners and we want to try to win every competition we are in."
Liverpool remain behind Everton in the race for fourth in the Premier League, and the lucrative Champions League spot that goes with it, after the weekend's fixtures.
The Reds briefly moved above their arch-rivals by winning 3-1 at Bolton on Sunday only for Everton to regain the place by beating Portsmouth by the same score later in the day.
Liverpool are back in action when West Ham visit Anfield on Wednesday.
Gerrard added: "The important thing short-term is to get in that fourth position, then we can regroup in the summer and have another go at winning the league.
"The players here know we've underachieved in the league this year.
"We're confident that if we play to our capabilities between now and the end of the season we'll take that fourth spot.
"Confidence is high at the moment but if we don't now go and beat West Ham, the Bolton result becomes irrelevant."
Gerrard last week admitted his side's failure to challenge for the Premier League title meant the season was destined to end in disappointment, regardless of whether they managed to win the Champions League.
Yet Gerrard claims the Champions League element of his comments was overplayed, as he would dearly love to get his hands on Europe's elite trophy again.
Liverpool face Inter Milan in the San Siro, with a 2-0 advantage from the first leg, for a place in the quarter-finals next week.
Gerrard, the inspiration behind the Reds' 2005 success in the competition, told the club's website: "The message I was trying to get across was that we are disappointed with where we are in the league, but that we're going to try to get into the top four and improve our league situation next season.
"Hopefully while we're going along we can get to another Champions League final. That would be a really good season.
"But the headlines got twisted into 'If we win the Champions League it won't be important' - which is nonsense. That is not what I meant at all.
"There won't be anyone happier in Liverpool than me if we do win the Champions League again.
"Istanbul was the best night of my football career and if we go on to achieve that again it will be right up there with that.
"But, because we're Liverpool Football Club, even if we do win it, we'll still worry about and try to improve our league form. We are winners and we want to try to win every competition we are in."
Liverpool remain behind Everton in the race for fourth in the Premier League, and the lucrative Champions League spot that goes with it, after the weekend's fixtures.
The Reds briefly moved above their arch-rivals by winning 3-1 at Bolton on Sunday only for Everton to regain the place by beating Portsmouth by the same score later in the day.
Liverpool are back in action when West Ham visit Anfield on Wednesday.
Gerrard added: "The important thing short-term is to get in that fourth position, then we can regroup in the summer and have another go at winning the league.
"The players here know we've underachieved in the league this year.
"We're confident that if we play to our capabilities between now and the end of the season we'll take that fourth spot.
"Confidence is high at the moment but if we don't now go and beat West Ham, the Bolton result becomes irrelevant."
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