Klopp instils new belief in Liverpool
THE last time Liverpool faced the might of Real Madrid, then manager Brendan Rodgers named a second-string side so impossible did it seem England’s most successful club on the European stage could compete with the self-proclaimed “kings of Europe”.
Madrid won 1-0 at the Bernabeu that November night in 2014, two weeks after it had inflicted Liverpool’s heaviest European home loss by cruising to a 3-0 victory at Anfield.
Fast-forward 3½ years and Jurgen Klopp has transformed the five-time European champion into believing it is worthy of its place in a Champions League final when it faces Real on Sunday (4.45am AEST).
“A lot of things happened since I came in, but the biggest change was how the people changed in the case of how much they like their actual team,” Klopp said yesterday.
“The boys deserved this. They had an exceptional sea- son, always could be better, but it was good and a big step in comparison to last year.”
Klopp’s tenure has been far from plain sailing. Even after ousting Manchester City 5-1 in the quarter-finals, he said the clock was ticking on his promise to deliver a trophy in his first four years.
By contrast, since the sides last met, Madrid has won two Champions Leagues, a La Liga title, two Club World Cups and two European Super Cups.
However, the feeling is Liverpool can compete with Europe’s elite.
Klopp’s role as a rabblerousing, bear-hugging cheerleader on the sidelines makes the 50-year-old a colourful and loveable character for fans, players and media alike.
In his first season Liverpool fell short in the League Cup and Europa League finals to Manchester City and Sevilla.
His second campaign delivered Champions League football, while his third has solidified Liverpool’s status as a Champions League club with another top-four finish and run to the final.
“They don’t hang silver medals at Melwood (Liverpool’s training ground),” Klopp said after an emotional night in Rome three weeks ago.
He has made Liverpool a force to be reckoned with again. The final step to go from contenders to champions is what remains to be taken.