No pilgrimage to Madrid: Klopp wants next coup

Liverpool FC starts in the last 16 of the premier class in the stadium of last year's Champions League success. Despite the outstanding season, coach Jürgen Klopp sees the role of favorites at another club.

Liverpool (dpa) - Jürgen Klopp becomes emotional when he thinks of returning to the stadium of his greatest triumph.

"It is a positive feeling when we think of the place," said Liverpool's German coach before the first round of the first leg of the Football Champions League on Tuesday (9:00 pm) at Atletico Madrid. The foundation stone for the next Klopp coup is to be laid at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano, where the Champions League win was won by a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in June 2019. "We don't make a pilgrimage there. Certainly not," he emphasized.

But despite the fabulous record season in the English Premier League with 25 wins from 26 matches, Klopp does not see his club as a favorite on the famous handle pot. "I don't think about defending my title," said Klopp to the Italian TV station RaiSport. "We didn't think about winning early last year either. We only really thought about winning the Champions League when we won in the semi-finals."

For the 52-year-old, Juventus Turin is the hottest contender for victory in the premier class. "I would say they currently have the strongest team in Europe," said the former Bundesliga coach. His coaching colleague Maurizio Sarri has "the largest squad" that he "has ever seen in life". "I can't understand why they don't lead Serie A by ten points."

For the Juve coach, however, the Klopp praise was not without reason. "Jürgen is one of the smartest and funniest people I've ever met. He's pushing away the favorite role," said the Italian. "Jürgen also said that he doesn't watch a lot of Italian football, which explains his confusion."

Sarri has very good arguments for his statement. FC Liverpool recently scored 103 out of 105 possible cross-season points in the Premier League. With 25 points, the traditional club leads the probably best league in the world with a big lead over Manchester City. And with the recovered Sadio Mané, the third attacker of the super trio around Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino returned to the 1-0 win at Norwich City on Saturday and was responsible for the 17th league win in a row.

With eighth-final opponent Atletico Madrid around the eccentric coach Diego Simeone, the team with the best form is not necessarily waiting for the English. But despite one of the weakest seasons in recent years, the Rojiblancos hope for a sensation against the favorites. "We have to do it, then I am sure that we have a good chance of progressing," said Spain international Saúl Ñíguez. Team colleague Marcos Llorente demanded: "Attitude, concentration, aggressiveness and intensity."

After all, important key players are expected to return on Tuesday. Forwards Alvaro Morata, Diego Costa and youngster Joao Felix are about to return. Klopp also respects the fourth in the Primera Division. "I've been around long enough to know that anything is possible."

Overview Champions League

Klopp statements via Guardian

Klopp interview at RaiSport