LUIS GARCIA
Klopp’s team better than Istanbul heroes
LIVERPOOL had to take the play-off route into the Champions League group stages.
However, one of the key players from their victorious 2005 team insists they can lift the trophy in Kiev next May.
Luis Garcia, whose semi-final winner against Chelsea set up the dramatic Istanbul triumph 12 years ago, believes that Jurgen Klopp’s current squad is stronger than the one Rafa Benitez had.
“If you look at the performances, you can say: ‘Yes, why not win it’,” says the Spaniard.
“In 2005, teams didn’t know anything about us until we were in the final. People were surprised and these players can be a surprise, too.
“The group is all right (Sevilla, Spartak Moscow and Maribor). This team is a lot better than we were back then, so I don’t think anyone can say that Liverpool can’t do it.”
Whether or not they can, Garcia expects Klopp to break his trophy duck at Anfield.
“This is the season,” he says. “He’s been at the club for nearly two years and he’s been trying to build a team in the way he was doing in Germany.
“I think he’s doing a good job. He’s brought in the players he wanted and this is the time for him to show the team is ready to face everything.
“This has to be the year that trophies start coming back to the club.”
Having played for both Barcelona and Liverpool, Garcia understands as well as anyone the dilemma Philippe Coutinho faced as the Spanish club tried – unsuccessfully – to prise him out of Merseyside.
“Liverpool are improving and are known in every corner of the world, but they haven’t been picking up trophies to match their history,” he says.
“At the moment, there is probably also a difference in talent between the two clubs.
“Players will always want to do better. We saw it with Fernando Torres and Luis Suarez, and this time with Coutinho.
“But the club said from the first minute that they didn’t want to sell him because they know how important he is.
“He’s been a key player for a few years. With the Champions League back at Anfield, it’s very important to keep those quality players.
“It’s true that it’s not easy to tell Barca to go away, but the kid has been fantastic because he hasn’t said anything.
“He knows that he’s a Liverpool player, so he said nothing. We should give him credit for that.
“I don’t know if the transfer will happen next year, but I’m glad he is staying at Liverpool because he’s a fantastic player, very professional and a great kid.”