Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp spoke at a press conference held at El Madrigal on Wednesday evening to preview the first leg of his side's Europa League semi-final clash with Villarreal.

The manager began by paying touching tribute to the families of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster, who earlier this week received the justice they have sought for 27 years.

Klopp also spoke on the return to fitness of Christian Benteke, after the striker was included in the travelling party for the trip to Spain having overcome a knee injury.

To see what else the German had to say to the world's media ahead of a hotly-anticipated meeting with Marcelino's team, check out our transcript below.

On keeping players grounded after the Borussia Dortmund win...

It's important to understand that my players came to the semi-finals because they were always ready for the moment, they never thought about the next round. It's important that I show the players the respect they earned and that means I don't have to speak to them about things. We didn't speak about this, we only spoke about the semi-final, or the next game in the Premier League. Nobody thinks we are halfway or something, we are here because we respect this tournament and we respect it in each round. It's not for talking about the final or Basel or something else.

On the qualities of Villarreal...

This is the highest level of football, [as] Villarreal shows each week. Big form in the Spanish league, playing with such good balance, very good structure in the game, very disciplined, good defending, good counter-attacks - if you let them, they play football. It's everything you need to be a good team and for a club in a small city in Spain that's great. They have made a lot of good decisions to be here and we should not hope that they will make only wrong decisions tomorrow. We have to be prepared for our best game and that's what we try to do. 

On stopping Roberto Soldado and Cedric Bukambu...

Avoid passes to them, maybe that's the best idea. It's the shortest answer I could give!

On comparisons between him and Marcelino...

I don't want to talk too much about our style of play, to be honest, because maybe tomorrow it's completely different. We saw Villarreal five or six times and I think playing against them is really special because they are really confident in the things they do. They defend in a very organised way, they are patient enough to wait for your mistakes, and then use these mistakes. We have to play the game Villarreal don't like, that's what we try to do. I don't compare the style of Dortmund the last few years or Liverpool, we have a different team now and we start a development and we try to do our best. We try to defend, we try to become better in possession, we try to work better together and we try to prepare more chances and finish better than before. That's how football is, there's not one way for all teams, there's a way for each team. 

On whether the Reds need an away goal...

I feel I want to score, tomorrow. It's not one word [answer], I think. I would like to see the game first, then talk about the result and then you can ask me about how I feel. I have no idea at this moment. If we are really, really good and should win then why should I be satisfied with a draw? If we are not good and can draw, why should I think [I am satisfied]? I don't know, we will see. It is not one per cent of the preparation for a game thinking about the possible result, it is only about the performance, it's only about what you have to do in each moment. The result is always a result of the performance, nothing else. We need to work and we only have to think about what we have to do. There is nothing to wish about results.

On players gaining experience with each round...

It's not the moment to think about what kind of experience it could be if you go through the semi-finals, or go out in the semi-final, if the quarter-final against Dortmund was the best experience we need to develop in the next few years. It is not about this. It is the only chance for us in 2015-16 in the Europa League to go as far as possible, that's all. Of course, when I came in October, Basel was not a real thing to think about. Now, it is not that far away so we could, but it's not that you say next year or in two years when you are in another, or the same, competition you think 'when we were in Villarreal…' Experience is nothing to talk about, it's not to buy, it's only to collect and to use. We will see what happens. Each difficult game you win is the best thing you can do in your career and, of course, you can get the benefit of it but if you go out, it could be an important experience. If you go through, it could be experience. But if you use it in the wrong way, then it is nothing.