Klopp: Respect to Atleti but it’s just not my style
JURGEN KLOPP said he ‘couldn’t have more respect’ for Atletico Madrid but repeated his previous criticism of their style of play as the Reds prepare to renew their rivalry with Diego Simeone’s men this evening.
The Spanish champions have lost only two of their last 59 matches at the Wanda Metropolitano and have a well-deserved reputation for being the toughest team in Europe to play against.
Tonight’s Group B tie in the Spanish capital is likely to be the toughest test Liverpool face at this stage of the Champions League but Klopp remains lukewarm about their methods. The Reds boss was frustrated by their style when Atletico ended their title defence at Anfield in March 2020, a match played against the backdrop of the growing Covid-19 pandemic with all football suspended the next day.
The German did not quite apologise for his criticism of Simeone’s team not playing ‘proper football’ on the night but yesterday insisted he meant no offence.
‘I said this after the second game and I was angry and disappointed about a lot of things: life a bit as things were going wrong at that moment and we had to concentrate on football in a really strange circumstance,’ he said.
‘Then, of course, we played against a team full of first-class players who defended with all they had and that was probably the reason I said the things I said.
‘Diego Simeone is doing everything absolutely right. He is the current Spanish champion, very successful there, has a bunch of world-class players who he keeps on their toes and they fight for all their life.
‘That says a lot about the quality of Diego so I couldn’t have more respect for what they do. Do I like it? Not too much, only because I prefer a different kind of football.
‘Other coaches prefer other styles so no one has to like it, it just has to be successful and that is what Atletico is.
‘In very difficult times for football in Spain they did a very impressive job with signings and look for me the possible La Liga champions again this year.’