Ahead of the Champions League final with Real Madrid, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp wants Liverpool to continue to win their way and priased the tactical knowledge of Zinedine Zidane.
Klopp also told reporters at his pre-match press conference that he struck a deal with his players in that they are responsible for everything apart from defeats.
Five years ago you were in the same position with Dortmund, what are the similarities and differences compared to now?
“It is a massive difference. The Champions League final is really big, as a manager you have lots to do, and for the preparation for the Champions League final, but mostly things like being cool and convinced and calm. I was much more excited that time with Dortmund, I never thought good things like that would happen to me and getting to the Champions League is hard, it felt like a once in a lifetime chance and we played a great game, After that I knew I wanted to get back to that again, it took a while, but I am here because the players have given me the chance again. The players deserve it and and I’m really proud of them.
Some people say Zidane doesn’t have tactical knowledge of other coaches, what do you think about that?
“If people think Zidane doesn’t have knowledge, a lot of people think that about me too. And it would be funny if two coaches who didn’t know about tactics are in the Champions League final. What does that say about the game. Zidane was one of the best five players ever to play football, and in three years, where I’ve been at Liverpool and he is at Real Madrid, he has the chance to win the Champions League for a third time, which hasn’t been done before, either way he is brilliant, like he was as a player and the group of players he has work like a clock from Switzerland. I’ve seen his team play a lot and they play fantastic football. At moments it is organised when it needs to be, and it is chaos when it needs to be. They are all world class players, but it is football, so there is an opportunity for the other team as well. Zidane was always a fighter, when he grew up at Marseille, and in his career you need to be a fighter, and as a player we was better he was so much better than everyone else, but he was still a fighter. I saw his face when someone asked him about the hunger of us and Real Madrid and the guy who asked the question made him angry. Were have different lives and we have to do what we are paid for.
At what point does Real Madrid’s experience make a difference?
“I don’t know as I haven’t done what they have done. In the seconds before the game they will be confident, but it doesn’t matter as that is only the start of the game. They are really strong when you watch them, but they have never played us. We are Liverpool and we have evolved and it has in our DNA that we can do big things. We are here because we are Liverpool, it is the most exceptional run in the Champions League, we scored most goals, had great results away from home. Their experience is an advantage, but in the game experience doesn’t help all the time. We have to make things difficult for them. Tactics are there to bring a better opponent to your level, and then to beat them.
You said in your first Liverpool press conference, that if teams were on your level you would kill them. Has your philosophy changed over time at the club?
“To make like uncomfortable would be a better word than kill. I never thought about my philosophy, I only thought about the games coming up. We have adapted constantly and moved to the next level the players were capable of. In this moment we think the football we play is the best to be as successful as posssible, and we will adapt to the level and skill of Real Madrid tomorrow. Now, we should be fully prepared as we don’t have much time left, and after tonight we will show what we know about Real Madrid. I really believe that you should use your own strengths, then adapt to what the opponents are asking for.
What is the most important strength Liverpool have?
“The spirt which we have created over the season. Nine months ago we were a good football team, but now the boys are ready for big things. We dreamed about being in the final, and it became a reality because of our performances.
Will Salah break his fast for Ramadan? And can he break the Messi/Ronaldo Ballon d’Or hegemony.
“Religion is private and I have nothing to say. He will be fine though, he is full of power. No manager is interested in any comparisons with Messi or Ronaldo. They deserve all their praise and they were at an amazing level, and we will see if Salah can go there, he has fantastic potential. This season he was exceptional, and we have one game to go but nevertheless, this season was outstanding, and in the next few years will see if he can do something more. Those two – Messi and Ronaldo – are the most consistent of the last 10 years, and performed as such a high level.
Coaches job to take pressure off team, do you agree?
“I haven’t done anything special this week. We had an agreement that I am responsible for the defeats and they are responsible for everything else. We work on things we are good at, but in the end the main message was all the things we worked on were made to be used in a game, like the match tomorrow. Be prepared for the big moments, most of the players will be nervous which is normal, then when the whistle blows play football, shoot, etc. So we tried to deal with the games as normal as possible.
Real Madrid’s bench is amazing. How do you cope with a high pace game but not having the same level on the bench?
“That is what we’ve done all season, we have great quality on the bench. It isn’t about comparing, we are fine with what we have, we have the best bench we have had for weeks due to players coming back from injury.So we are in a better position than weeks ago. We haven’t had chances to change recently. We are as fresh as can be after these two weeks. Playing a final and winning a final, teams have needed luck. We need to be ready for any challenged in a game. we really are fine with our tools, with the things we have. Maybe a few clubs have better, but they aren’t in the final. We did it our way and we want to do it our way again.
