Klopp says Liverpool “will come again” after Real Madrid defeat

Jürgen Klopp admitted Liverpool’s players were hurting after their Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid, but declared the Reds “will come again” after the narrow reverse in Paris. Klopp added next year’s final in Istanbul was already a target, advising supporters to “book the hotel”

A 0-1 defeat to Madrid at Stade de France meant Liverpool were left with FA Cup and EFL Carabao Cup triumphs to show for a season in which they came desperately close to an unprecedented quadruple. Manchester City denied them the Premier League title by one point on a dramatic final day last Sunday, and it was Champions League specialists Madrid who toppled them on Saturday to claim their 14th European crown, with Vinicius netting a second-half winner.

Nine shots on target

“Everyone in the dressing room, nobody feels it was a great season at the moment,” Klopp told BT Sport after the defeat. “We probably need a few minutes for that, maybe hours.” He said two decisions had gone against Liverpool by “the smallest margin possible”, but did not specify which incidents he was referring to.

“We played a good game, not the perfect game,” Klopp added. “We had a lot of shots but not the clearest, only three or so where [Thibaut] Courtois made top saves. Then we conceded a goal... Vinicius was there and that was it.”

Klopp said Liverpool tried “absolutely everything” after he had told his players to “be more brave in the second half.” Vinicius struck just before the hour mark, and Liverpool huffed and puffed but were not at their best as Madrid repeatedly repelled the threat of Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah, with Courtois outstanding as the last line of defence. The Belgian made nine saves in the match, the most on record by a goalkeeper in a single Champions League final (since 2003-04).

Klopp added he was alone among the Liverpool contingent in being able to put the game swiftly into perspective. “It’s not hard. I have that already, but I’m the only one in the dressing room,” he said. “I know it’s not the success you want to have, but I have the strong feeling we will come again. That’s how it is, because the boys are competitive. We have an outstanding group together and will have again an outstanding group next year. Then we go again. We obviously have to try a bit more often than others but no problem. Where’s it next year? Istanbul? Yeah, book the hotel.”