Jürgen Klopp met with the media today ahead of tomorrow's Champions League match against Real Madrid. Kick-off tomorrow is at 20:00 GMT from Anfield. The Reds have a familiar European foe in Real Madrid. This Round of 16 match-up is a rematch of the 2022 Champions League Final.
In his press conference, Klopp talked extensively about last year's final. The result on the pitch, as well as the drama outside the stadium, have combined to give this match an electric feel less than 24 hours until kick-off. The manager also gave an update on Darwin Núñez.
The Uruguayan striker left the Reds' 2-0 win at Newcastle over the weekend early with a shoulder injury. Klopp was vague about his availability, “There's a chance… We have to see how he can deal with the pain [and] when we know that, we make a decision."
Photos have emerged since Liverpool's training session today, showing Darwin as a participant. While that is an encouraging sign, the squad will once again go into a huge match with injury question marks. It's getting really tiresome…
Klopp started by talking about how all the recent meetings, not just last year's final, would affect the Reds' mindset going into the game. The Boss said,” In our own story, just recently if you want, we played this final in Paris and I didn't watch it back since then – until this weekend… But that's seven, eight months ago. Before that, the last time when they knocked us out, we played there on the training ground and here in an empty stadium.”
Klopp was asked later on about Real's manager Carlo Ancelotti and whether or not Real Madrid were the ultimate test in European football. He replied, “But Carlo is the most relaxed manager I ever met in my life, one of the best people you can meet… So yes, with this world-class team, which they were last year, brought in super-exciting young players.”
Towards the end of the press conference, Klopp was asked whether or not the incidents outside the Stade de France last May would affect the crowd tomorrow night. The Boss rightfully called for everyone to move on from Paris, “I don't think we needed the Paris game to make this a special game… There is nothing that happened around the Paris game that was the responsibility of Real Madrid. Nothing was the responsibility of our people.”
Ultimately, Klopp was saying that we should let the football do the talking. He also issued a specific call for visiting supporters to come and enjoy the match. “The Real Madrid fans who come here should be welcomed in the best possible way, go out in the city, be in pubs and stuff like this and enjoy your time here and come to one of the most historical football places in the world and enjoy yourselves.”
This game is huge no matter what angle you look at it from. Jürgen Klopp was right to call on everyone, the players, staff, and supporters to focus on tomorrow night. Hopes are high that the Anfield faithful will be able to help the team beat the best team in Europe.
The reported shoulder injury to Darwin Núñez certainly casts a long shadow over the match. However, this team has dealt with injuries all year long and if you see the photos from training today, you have to think they'll be ready.
