Liverpool boss strives for perfection
Klopp is confident Reds have entire package to overcome Real Madrid challenge
Liverpool must produce a “perfect performance” to overcome a 3-1 first leg deficit against Real Madrid today and reach the Champions League semi-finals, manager Jurgen Klopp said.
A difficult season for the English champions will end without a trophy should they fail to pull off a fightback against the 13-time European Cup winners today.
“This Real Madrid team has some of the greatest talent playing football in the world today. This isn’t a surprise — it’s what Real Madrid do. So to beat a side like this you must always strive for the perfect performance,” Klopp said in remarks published on the Liverpool website yesterday.
“But what we will not lose sight of is how good we are, the talent we have, the magic in our dressing room and the character required to make special moments happen. We have the entire package at Liverpool.”
One part of the package missing from previous glory European nights at Anfield will be the crowd because of ongoing coronavirus restrictions.
Liverpool famously overcame a 3-0 first leg deficit to beat Barcelona 4-0 in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final on route to winning the competition for a sixth time in 2019.
But, with no fans in the stands, Klopp has played down comparisons with that clash or the fightback from 3-1 down on the night, to score three times in the last 24 minutes and beat Borussia Dortmund 4-3 and advance 5-4 on aggregate in the Europa League five years ago.
“It is an indisputable truth that a full stadium would have been significant for us,” added Klopp.