Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has appointed Real Madrid to their squad for the UEFA Champions League final.
Real Madrid are the most successful team in the history of the competition and have taken the unthinkable this season to squeeze Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester City to reach another final.
Ahead of the game, Klopp admitted that he felt Real Madrid were coming into the game as favorites but urged his Liverpool team to hold on to the same level as their rivals.
“If you look at the history of the club, the experience of the other team, and the way Real Madrid celebrated the return I can say in my opinion that Real Madrid is the favorite,” he said. “But I really want to be at the same level and think we are at the same level.
“I want us to be completely in this game. When we are at the top of our game it is hard to play, it is really hard to play. That’s the only thing that’s bothering me right now, is to be us and truly confident. However, the confidence level of the Madrid players is surprisingly high.
“It would mean a lot to win. The world in which we live means that we have been judged with a final result. If you are a footballer you know what my boys have been doing this season so far it is strange but in the end, it all depends on the color of the medal you get after the game. We are ready for that.
“History will tell us what people are saying about us. I’m very happy with what we have done so far.”
Klopp also took the opportunity to raise some concerns about the Stade de France stadium, which was completely demolished on Friday morning, joking about his history of ongoing appeals.
“Usually when I say the stadium looks new that’s good news,” he explained. This stadium is new from yesterday, which is not the best news, but it will be the same for both teams.
“I’ve seen the ref players and their session and the good news is that the ball is falling in the usual way. You see the lines where they put together the pieces of the pitch, which we are not used to. That someone thought was good. The idea of bringing the pitch yesterday to the pitch % .I’m so glad we are here, I would have played a game in pétanque.
“Both teams are technical teams and you can wish in the dream world that the stadium is the best you have ever seen in your life. Obviously not. Maybe perfect but it looks imperfect. I hope no one makes a story about ‘Klopp moaning about the pitch’. I’m fine. “
