Good for Ju

> Klopp unfazed by Madrid’s status as favourites ahead of Champions League final <

Barcelona’s captain Andres Iniesta is thrown in the air by teammates during a tribute after their La Liga match against Real Sociedad at the Nou Camp stadium in Barcelona yesterday. Iniesta, who joined Barcelona’s academy 22 years ago, played his final game for the club. –

LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp is unperturbed by Real Madrid’s status as favourites heading into the Champions League final, insisting “I don’t feel like an underdog”.

Klopp’s men go head to head with the reigning European champions in Kiev this Saturday as they attempt to deny Los Blancos a historic third successive Champions League title.

Liverpool have impressed throughout the competition with their combination of speed and attacking prowess, memorably knocking out Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the quarterfinals, but the side remain rank outsiders to Zinedine Zidane’s European specialists.

Nonetheless, Klopp has struck an optimistic tone ahead of Saturday’s final and believes that his Liverpool side have embraced “the role we are in”.

“Yes they are favourites, they know everything, they can write their own scripts because they have (now) experienced it four times in the last five years,” Klopp told The Guardian.

“There have been three dominant clubs in the last few years, and we are facing one of them. I have no problem with the situation and I don’t feel like an underdog. Liverpool were absolutely not favourites in 2005, and that was before they went 3-0 down.”

Liverpool famously fought back from 3-0 down against AC Milan in the 2005 final to draw level at 3-3 before winning on penalties.

It was the side’s last European title – their fifth in total – and Klopp is confident that his men can add a sixth this weekend.

“To be honest, we like the role we are in. We like the situation and we are in a good moment. Real Madrid are a side of the highest quality going for three wins in three years, but we are Liverpool. That’s something not to forget.”

Klopp hails his Real Madrid counterpart as “one of the top five players of all time” and believes facing him in the Champions League final is “a nice challenge”.

“I’m glad we’re not playing against each other. Me against him, marking him or whatever... I’m very glad I can send my players onto the pitch,” Klopp told the club’s website.

“He’s one of the top 10... top five players of all time. And now he’s the coach of Real Madrid, a hugely experienced team on the pitch. ”

“He’s an extraordinary character in the football world,” Klopp added.

“But we’re not going there to grab some jerseys. I’m not going there to shake his hand, which of course will happen anyway... he’s a great footballing legend.” – Reuters/ The Independent