Klopp: “100% of the people think we have no chance”

Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp was realistic about his team’s chances of securing a place in Friday’s Champions League quarter final draw, admitting in this evening’s press conference that the probability of pulling off a coup against the cup holders, at their stadium is slim to nonexistent. Real Madrid hold the whip hand after winning the first leg 2-5 but that, Klopp was eager to stress, does not mean that there is nothing to play for - “Let’s play football!” he told reporters in the Spanish capital.

You said after the first leg that by the time you got here, you might think very differently to how you did after Anfield. So how are you thinking?

I’m happy to be here. What I said after the game was, that Madrid, with the result, is through to the next round. But now, three weeks later and we know there is a game to play. And if there is only a one per cent chance, I would like to give it a try. We are here to play an extremely strong opponent, and try to win the game tomorrow. And as difficult as it is, that’s what we are here for and we’ll see where that leads us to. We respect the competition too much, we respect the opponent too much - why is why we are looking forward to this game tomorrow. Of course it’s a tough task - it’s not a great situation we are in, but anyway, like I said, I am looking forward to the game.

We have seen some extreme results this season, would it be ridiculous to say that maybe this season, there is a better chance?

I’m not sure this is a season where we have a better chance but let’s say that if we can surprise ourselves in a negative way, we can surprise ourselves in a positive way as well. If it’s going up and down, then tomorrow would be up again, so we will see... But again, it’s clear, we are not here, telling Madrid, ‘Be careful, we’re coming’ - that’s not the situation we are in. But we are here to try to win the game. To win it we have to play extremely good. There is no other chance. If you play a normal game, or an OK game, or a good game, it will not be enough. And that’s only to win it, I’m not talking about going to the next round. We have to be really on top of our game. That’s what we’ll try to do.

Tactically, what do Liverpool need to do differently from the first leg?

The only problems from a tactical point of view were the counter attacks in the second half, in the first half we defended against that OK. You cannot avoid Vinicius all the time, or deny Vinicius all the time and you cannot deny Karim all the time... but for long periods we did. We scored our two goals, then conceded from a fantastic individual situation from Vinicius. I would say the second one was a present from us. So from a tactical point of view, we have to be super active with and without the ball. You cannot play against Madrid without defending to an extremely high level. Madrid are a football-playing side, so our midfield press needs to be outstanding. And with all the risks we have to take offensively, we have to make sure we avoid the counter-attacks as well. Apart from that, I didn’t see a massive problem with our tactical plan - we just didn’t defend the counter-attacks well enough in the second half.

If the game starts like the first leg, and Liverpool finds themselves 0-2 up after 15 minutes, would you do anything differently? Also, is this the most difficult game you have had to prepare for during your career, considering the result from the first leg?

I’ve already answered that - we’ll try to do what we did up until we scored the first two goals. The most difficult game? I don’t know, it’s doesn’t feel like it is. It’s difficult - because we will probably not be in the next round. Here in this room, I think, 100 per cent of the people think that we have no chance. And if I am the only one who thinks we have a little chance, I’m fine with that. We are the complete outsiders for tomorrow’s game, 100% - it’s Real Madrid, they are 3-0 up, that’s nothing you would want for Christmas. But’s that’s the situation, it’s football and we will try to give it a go.

In his press conference, Carlo Ancelotti said that there is probably more pressure on Madrid, recalling what happened last season in the tie against Chelsea. Liverpool are going into this game without anyone expecting them to turn it around. Is there are sense of freedom without the pressure of having to achieve the impossible?

Yeah, of course we have nothing to lose and that’s a better situation than possibly losing everything. The only problem is, that we could lose a football game and we have had that feeling already this season and it’s something we don’t like. And if you don’r play a good football game here, you don’t only lose, you get a proper knock, because when they start enjoying the game, that’s not a good moment you should come into. I know what he is talking about but anyway, I would prefer his situation - to have a little bit of pressure to defend a 3-0 lead. But Carlo is only warning his boys about these kinds of things. That’s what I said, three weeks ago, the tie was done. But now, after three weeks... yeah. Let’s play football, that’s it.

Liverpool and Real Madrid have met several times in recent years. Have you learned anything new about Madrid - a team which Fabinho said earlier, “Can smell blood”

Fabinho’s right, absolutely. They smell blood and they don’t lose their conviction or confidence. They go 2-0 down and no one sees any difference - that’s a massive skill. They have won so much over the last few years that nothing can really affects them in a negative way and that is something to really admire. We play differently to Madrid, we defend differently, we attack differently so it’s more about the mentality. Madrid has all my respect, absolutely, fantastic team. For the generation of players out on the pitch - five, six-time Champions League winners, it’s absolutely crazy, and still running, still going. Luka Modric will continue playing until he’s 45 or something like that; Toni Kroos is only just turned 30... Incredible players. Karim Benzema looks like he can play another three or four seasons - and they’re bringing in younger players, Tchouameni and all the boys. It’s a good team and obviously a great club. They gave us a few lessons, we lost big finals but we played some good games against them. I don’t think I learned a lot but it’s like it always is, it makes you stronger. Madrid have given me many tough times but I have taken what I have needed from it.

How many times have you watched the video of the first leg at Anfield, or the Paris final? Or have you studied Madrid’s more recent games to find solutions against them?

I didn’t watch the final, I watched the first leg and that was enough. The full game I didn’t watch that often. I watched it maybe once, directly after the game. But situations, yes, we use everything - the recent games in the league because it’s important line-up wise, even when Karim didn’t play. Madrid is doing what Madrid is doing - that will not change between games. They are that good, they can do it. It’s not that we have to watch five different games and say, here they do this, here they do that. They are good in everything - different set-pieces, different kick-off variations, possession-based play, counter-attacking, deep defending, high pressing... it’s all there, the full package. You cannot be such a successful team over many years if you are only good at one thing. We know what to expect tomorrow, now it’s about what we do. It’s about how good we can be. We know how good Madrid are. We will give it a try.

Three goals seems a huge task, if you get one...

Haha! Then we still need two! Like I say we are here to win a football game. And that’s difficult enough at a place like this - it doesn’t happen a lot. It’s not like teams are coming to the Bernabéu and frequently winning games. This is one of the best teams in the world, you can’t just come here and expect to win. But we will try. It’s not about me sitting here and telling everyone that three goals is no problem - of course it’s a problem! And three is only possible if we don’t concede... other wise we have to score more which makes it a bit more unlikely. If I was sat on the other side, where you are now, I would say the same, ‘Liverpool has no chance’ and that means we are alone with the little belief we have, we will try tomorrow, we’ll see.