Champions League: Real Madrid Won’t Come Easy, Klopp Warns Players

Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp has reminded his players that “they do not hang silver medals at Melwood” after they qualified for the UEFA Champions League final with a 7-6 aggregate win over AS Roma.

The Reds will face holders, Real Madrid in the final on 26th May, at the Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex, Kiev, Ukraine.

Liverpool have already won the European Cup five times – more than any other club in English football.

Their most recent victory came in 2005, when they recovered from 3-0 down at half-time to beat AC Milan on penalties in Istanbul.

The Kiev final will be the eighth in the club’s history and will present Klopp to win the first trophy of his reign since being appointed to manager Liverpool in October 2015.

“We were in League Cup final, we didn’t win it. People don’t tell me in the street since then: ‘Thank you for bringing us to the final,” the German said.

We were in Europa League final, nobody tells me that. I see no trophies after these games.”

“They don’t hang silver medals at Melwood. That’s a pity, that’s the game. There’s still a job to do but that’s how it is.

“Going to a final is really nice but winning is even nicer. We will be ready then but is Real Madrid. You cannot be more experienced in this competition than Real Madrid.

“I think 80 per cent of the team of Real Madrid played all these finals. They are four times in the last five years and still together. They are experienced, we are not, but we will be really on fire.”

Liverpool must make sure of their place in next year’s Champions League by securing a top-four English Premier League finish. Victory over fifth-placed Chelsea on Sunday at Stamford Bridge will guarantee them their place.

“We have to play two more Champions League semifinals in the Premier League, that’s the first job to do, but we have two weeks to prepare the final and we will use that time,” Klopp added.