Jurgen Klopp is keen for Liverpool to show their quality and heart against Villarreal
According to the club’s official website, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has refused to concede that his side has already got the better of Villarreal in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
The Reds dominated proceedings in the first leg at Anfield, winning the tie 2-0. They will now travel to the Estadio de la Ceramica to get the job done on Tuesday. The task will be anything but easy given that a chair at Europe’s biggest game is available.
Despite his side holding a strong advantage, Klopp is far from taking it easy. He has no time for complacency or half measures and has advised his player to approach the game with
“Of course not, we know that. It’s half-time. In the best possible way, you ignore the result from the first game.”
Unai Emery is a sort of savant when it comes to European knockouts and Klopp has every right to be cautious. The Villarreal manager was quite vocal about his side’s chances following full time at Anfield. Klopp will do well to answer the Spaniard on the field.
“This will not be easy. But we played a good game at home and we better play a good game there as well.”
Winning a European semifinal is nothing new for Liverpool. In fact, this is the third time they have made it to the last four of the competition in the last five years. Klopp’s side also appears to be in good form at the moment.
With games coming thick and fast, Klopp rested several of his first-team stars on Saturday against Newcastle United. Speaking after the win at St James Park, he admitted that the Reds are already in preparations to face Villarreal.
The trip to Spain will be no piece of cake. But knowing Klopp, his side will be ready. Hopefully, that should prove to be enough and make us the first team in this year’s UCL final.
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Liverpool are set to negotiate what could be the biggest month in their history. With a quadruple on the cards, Jurgen Klopp and co are en route to writing their names into footballing folklore.
There could also be a situation where we end up facing English teams in all our three potential cup finals. The Reds take on Chelsea in the FA Cup final on 14th May after already beating them in the EFL Cup on penalties. Manchester City, meanwhile, have a 4-3 advantage going into the second leg of the last-four against Real Madrid.
