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Jurgen Klopp responds to Liverpool’s whimpering Champions League elimination and gets ready for “defining” Premier League games.
Jurgen Klopp claims he couldn’t even get angry as Liverpool exited the Champions League in tame fashion with a 6-2 aggregate loss to Real Madrid.
At the Santiago Bernabeu, Real won easily, 6-2 overall, thanks to a goal from Karim Benzema in the 78th minute. Liverpool, who were hesitant and timid, were unable to mount one of their famed European comebacks in the Spanish capital.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Klopp said: “We came here with the backpack we had with the three-goals difference [from the first leg] so you need a special performance and we didn’t show a special performance tonight. In moments it was a good performance but Real Madrid were the team in control for most of the game. They had the better chances. If you want to get through, you need to be outstanding. If you want to win the game, you need to be really good, and Madrid was the better team and that’s why the right team went through to the next round.
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“I was not angry after the game, I was disappointed. I would be angry if we would have played better and it was close and they won because of a penalty which isn’t a penalty or things like that, but in the end that all didn’t happen. Real Madrid was just the better side. I’m long enough in the business to respect that.”
The Reds presently behind fourth-place Tottenham by six points and must play away at Manchester City and Chelsea as well as at home against Premier League champions Arsenal in their upcoming three games if they hope to make the Champions League for next season.
Klopp said: “It is the competition and we want to be a part of it every year, and that’s now a massive task for us. We all know that. When we come back from the international break we have a proper football week ahead of us, I would say, with three games – City, Chelsea and Arsenal. They will probably define where we get out of it. People might say we lost it at Bournemouth but I think this week is a pretty decisive one. We have to hope now the boys come back healthy and early enough and in the right shape and we will try it.”
The Reds won’t play again until they visit Manchester City in the Premier League on April 1.