ZZ top coach, insists Reds’ boss Jurgen
LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp has laughed off suggestions Real Madrid counterpart Zinedine Zidane has limited tactical coaching knowledge.
The pair face each other at Kiev’s NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium tonght as Zidane seeks to become the first man to lead his side to three straight Champions League triumphs.
Klopp was asked what he thought of the suggestion the Frenchman did not have - or need much tactical input to coach an all-star Madrid team led by the Champions League’s all-time leading scorer Cristiano Ronaldo.
He said: “If a lot of people think Zinedine Zidane has not a lot of tactical knowledge and then people think the same about me that would be really funny.
“The two managers in the Champions League final have no clue about tactics? What would that say about the game?
“For me, Zinedine Zidane is one of the best five players of all time in football.
“I am longer at Liverpool than he is at Real Madrid and he can win the Champions League for a third time. That has never happened before.
“I have to accept he is as brilliant as he was as a player.
“This group of players works like a clock from Switzerland.”
Much has been made of the gulf in experience between the two sides.
Liverpool’s starting line-up is likely to include only Roberto Firmino, Dejan Lovren and James Milner from the team which lost the Europa League final two years ago. No-one has played in a Champions League final.
By contrast, Ronaldo could become the fifth player to win five European Cups while Sergio Ramos, Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, Karim Benzema, Dani Carvajal, Marcelo and Isco are all looking for their fourth Champions League winners’ medal.