Last season’s 40-goal man, returning to the Hoops after suffering injury and illness, said: “From the start to the end of the campaign, it’s been like two different teams.
“The boys are disappointed not to have won the game. The gaffer said he is really proud of the players.
“They left out Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne, but look at the players they brought in. Sane is worth £39million, so they are piling millions into the club trying to be one of the best football teams in the world – and we more than matched them.
“Six or eight months from now, we’ve got to show again why we deserve to be in this competition.
“We know it’s going to be tough, but with the manager, the backroom staff and the players we’ve got here and the players the manager will want to bring in, he’ll no doubt strengthen the squad and we’ll have a real crack at it next year.”
He added: “You never know, I can’t help it if I’m injured or unwell at times.