LONDON • Jurgen Klopp has buried the hatchet of his old rivalry with Bayern Munich but wants Liverpool to prove they are Champions League contenders by beating the German champions in the first leg of their last-16 tie today.
Bayern have won the Bundesliga title for the past six years since Borussia Dortmund claimed back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012 under Klopp, who also lost the 2013 Champions League final to the Bavarian giants.
The animosity between both sides was further heightened after the five-time European Cup winners picked off some of his best players in Mario Gotze, Mats Hummels and Robert Lewandowski.
But, at his pre-match press conference yesterday, Klopp claimed "it was nothing" and he no longer had any hard feelings.
He said: "There were never any negative things with Bayern but, when we played them or when they bought our players, how could I be happy and say, 'Great, I'll bring him in my car'. In these moments, I was not happy, but it is long ago."
While Liverpool have not won the Champions League since 2005, they came close to adding to their five crowns last season, only to lose to Real Madrid in the final.
Klopp feels the fact his side are now thought of as European heavyweights is an indication of their progress since he took over in 2015.
HIGH HOPES
Being not only part of the competition but people thinking we can beat Bayern, that's a big thing. The story so far is a nice one but not finished yet.
JURGEN KLOPP, Liverpool manager, on the Reds being resurgent in Europe after making it to the Champions League final last season.
HAIL THE 12TH MAN
In Germany, a lot of people talk now about the atmosphere at Anfield. There was a lot of talk that we are maybe the most emotional club in world football.
KLOPP, on the effect of the Anfield faithful on opposing sides.
He said: "The best thing of all the things we did so far since we are together is that we are a real competitor again.
"Being not only part of the competition but people thinking we can beat Bayern, that's a big thing. The story so far is a nice one but not finished yet."
The German is also not the only Reds member who has a past history with Bayern, with Xherdan Shaqiri relishing the opportunity to lock horns against his former club, where he enjoyed 21/2 "amazing" seasons from 2012-15.
Joel Matip and Fabinho are expected to form a makeshift centre-back pairing with Virgil van Dijk suspended and Joe Gomez out, although Klopp is prepared to "wait minute by minute to see if there is a chance or not" for Dejan Lovren.
Niko Kovac also has his own concerns, with Jerome Boateng, Arjen Robben and Corentin Tolisso all sidelined and Thomas Muller banned, but Franck Ribery will play a part after travelling to Merseyside on a later flight after becoming a new father.
However, Klopp is confident their famed "12th man" can spur his side on as they seek to overcome their less-than-ideal defensive situation to take a lead to the Allianz Arena on March 13.
The 51-year-old added: "In Germany, a lot of people talk now about the atmosphere at Anfield. There was a lot of talk that we are maybe the most emotional club in world football.
"Emotion, in my opinion, is a very positive thing, so let's show that tomorrow."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
LIVERPOOL V BAYERN
Singtel TV Ch110 & StarHub Ch214, tomorrow, 3.55am
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp denies their FA Cup exit has given them an advantage over Premier League title rivals Manchester City and Tottenham. Defeat to Wolves on Monday left the league
Bayern braced for Klopp reunion at Liverpool - sports.yahoo.com
Report Ad
The Largest Wine Selection Delivered To Your Door. Shop For Your Favorite Wine.
Shop the best selection of Conundrum.
Maurizio Sarri: 'Disaster' settled Tottenham 1 - Chelsea 0. Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri slammed the use of VAR in the Spurs game. Mauricio Pochettino says his @SpursOfficial side
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri says PLAYERS will decide if Kepa
Singapore. Football: Ikhsan Fandi the match-winner as Singapore Under-22s beat Thais 1-0 to capture Merlion Cup. straitstimes.com. June 09, 2019 9:50 PM SINGAPORE - The Young Lions' hopes of making it to at least the semi-finals of this year's SEA Games - after group-stage …
Football: Ihsan Fandi, the winner of the match, after
Paul Gascoigne is set to appear before a judge to face a sexual assault charge. The former England, Middlesbrough and Newcastle star denied kissing a woman while travelling from York to Newcastle
Great football comebacks to inspire Liverpool in Champions League semi-final second leg match with Barcelona The Reds are 3-0 down and without Mohamed Salah but they can still make it to Madrid
Top 10 Greatest comebacks in Champions League history
Albirex Niigata S v DPMM predictions can be derived from the H2H stats analysis. You could check the H2H stats based on Albirex Niigata S home ground. Alternatively, you could view the past results based on DPMM home ground.
DPMM FC coach Pennock hails players for display against
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on December 16, 2018, with the headline 'Koscielny returns to plug gap at the back'. Print Edition | Subscribe.
Rob Holding injury: Arsenal defender ruled out for rest of
Madrid set to be Hazard's new home. After winning the Europa League, attention turns to the uncertain futures of Chelsea talisman Eden Hazard (left), seen holding the trophy with Cesar Azpilicueta.
Madrid set to be Hazard's new home - theworldnews.net
Manchester City tear apart Liverpool's feeble defence to claim an emphatic victory over the 10-man visitors and move top of the Premier League. approach to the game, there must surely be an
Pep Guardiola wants perfect run-in as Manchester City close
Hakeem Al Araibi (Reuters pic) DUBAI: FIFA says it has been in regular contact with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) over the Bahraini soccer player arrested in Thailand in November over a
Football: Fifa says it's in regular contact with AFC over
sportsloveme.com/soccer/football-fifa-says-its-in-regular-contact-with-afc-over-detained-bahraini-player/
Football: Fifa says it's in regular contact with AFC over detained Bahraini player 01/17/2019 FIFA , FOOTBALL MATCHES , HAKEEM DUBAI (REUTERS) - Fifa says it has been in regular contact with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) over the Bahraini footballer arrested in Thailand in November over a prison sentence in his homeland.
FIFA says in regular contact with AFC over detained refugee
0 comments:
Post a Comment