Liverpool Coach Jurgen Klopp remembers being sent off against Napoli, expects an “exciting” clash with PSG and tough trip to Belgrade.
It is a very tough group in today’s Champions League draw, as Napoli take on Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool and Red Star Belgrade.
Liverpool Coach Jurgen Klopp remembers being sent off against Napoli, expects an “exciting” clash with PSG and tough trip to Belgrade.
It is a very tough group in today’s Champions League draw, as Napoli take on Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool and Red Star Belgrade.
“To be 100 per cent honest, it was not that I had a group I wished for or whatever. I expected a difficult group, we have a difficult group and that’s what the Champions League is all about,” Klopp told liverpoolfc.com.
“PSG are one of the most exciting teams in the world and I think their target is to win the Champions League, so that will be two interesting matches.”
Liverpool crushed Carlo Ancelotti’s Napoli 5-0 in a pre-season friendly, but that was only a few weeks into the new tactician’s experience and he was still experimenting.
“Napoli, we beat them in pre-season, but it goes without saying these two games will be completely a different challenge.
“I’ve been to Napoli with Dortmund, so I know what the atmosphere is like there. In fact, it’s where I got a suspension [for being sent off]. I can do better, obviously!”
Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund lost 2-1 in Naples in the Champions League group phase in 2013-14 with Roman Weidenfeller sent off before half-time, winning the German leg 3-1.
“Red Star, I watched them last night. They came through and it will be, again, a very, very intense atmosphere I am sure.
“But that’s how it is, it’s the group and I am fine with that. Now let’s go. With the quality of the tournament, it was always likely we’d get a really tough draw on paper… That’s how it is. No problem. The Champions League is the biggest club competition in the world, so it should be difficult because it is. We cannot expect to get an ‘easy’ group or whatever.
“It’s important and interesting to watch the draw, but in the end you have absolutely no influence on it. Now we can start having influence because now we can prepare for the games and look at their games.
“I am looking forward to watching PSG a bit more often, which is a very interesting project for sure over in France with Thomas Tuchel. Facing Neymar will be, for our Brazilian guys, like meeting a friend again and all that stuff. It’s a big challenge, but for all the others it is a big challenge to face us.
“‘It is how it is’ is the best way to describe it; don’t think too much about it. If you think about the group, you are already out. If you think it is too difficult, you are already out. We don’t think either. We will play the games, we will be competitive – that’s what we have to make sure – and that is all.”
Liverpool reached the Final last season, losing out eventually to Real Madrid after a hard-fought semi-final clash with Roma.
“Yes, but last season is last season and now we have to do it again. That’s normal. All the teams have to do it again. We want to go through the group. It will be difficult but still we want to go through. That’s the plan, so now let’s start working on it.”