Boss: Reaching the Champions League final is a sign
Liverpool's progression to the Champions League final is an 'obvious sign' for Jürgen Klopp that the club is moving in the right direction.
The Reds will contest the eighth European Cup showpiece in their history, against Real Madrid in Kiev on May 26, after completing a 7-6 aggregate victory over AS Roma at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday night.
It is the third time Klopp has guided his team to a major final since he took charge less than three years ago, though having lost the previous two he immediately warned that ‘they don’t hang silver medals at Melwood’.
Nevertheless, as he spoke to Liverpoolfc.com on board the team flight home from Italy yesterday, the manager reflected on an ‘amazing’ opportunity ahead.
“I really think that the whole situation in the club is a really good moment,” he said.
“Yes, I think we are little bit in this direction [closing the gap on Europe’s top clubs] but we are not responsible for the rest. We don’t have an influence on other teams so we don’t think too much about it.
“But it’s important for us – for bringing new players, for keeping our players – that we really show that and make it clear that that’s our direction. For that, of course it helps massively if you have this obvious sign: being in the Champions League final.
“If you don’t win it then nobody will talk about it. But in not even three years we are now in a third final, that’s not bad. Of course we are here to win things but the only way to win things is to go to the final. If you don’t go there, there’s no chance. We are there and it’s just amazing.”
The post-match scenes of celebration inside the Stadio Olimpico will prove to be the abiding images of a game that Roma pushed to the edge with a 4-2 victory courtesy of two late goals.
Liverpool's players and staff gathered in front of a buoyant red strip of 5,000 travelling fans to share the joy of securing what will be a first appearance in the Champions League final since 2007.
And it was in those special moments that it dawned on Klopp exactly what his team had given to the supporters. “I don’t have the right words for it, to be honest,” he said.
“When I saw the boys in the dressing room and going out again and I saw the people out there, then I really got it. Since then, it didn’t feel worse! It feels good.
“When we started the season and started the project, I don’t think that you can plan a Champions League final so we didn’t. But the boys made it possible and made it happen. It’s really cool.”
Late flurries in each of the two legs meant Roma came within one goal of parity at the end of a tie that Liverpool led comfortably for the majority.
While the tension involved at the Stadio Olimpico put fans at the ground and watching from home through the wringer, the boss himself was always convinced his team would finish the job.
“I know the Champions League final is rare if you are not in this moment Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern. I feel the exceptional [nature] of the situation. It’s really nice, I’m really happy,” the German added.
“I saw the game and I was not anxious, to be honest. I saw everything and it was clear they had chances but they scored really late.
“We didn’t play well; we didn’t play as well as we did over the Champions League season. But I was still not anxious – I really felt during the game that it would happen. It was really cool and really special.”
For more Champions League coverage, join LFCTV GO now and get your first month for free>>>