Team manager Jürgen Klopp has praised his team to the skies after the longed-for Champions League triumph with FC Liverpool. “We’ve tried long enough. I’m super happy and proud that it worked today. This team is an exceptional one, an adult team,” said the 51-year-old after a 2-0 (1-0) win over Tottenham Hotspur in Madrid at Sky.
In the final phase, “only Tottenham had scored the goal,” Klopp explained. Liverpool would therefore owe the victory of the Henkelpott in particular to Alisson: “His problem is that he makes things look so easy. That’s why he doesn’t get enough praise.”
Klopp saw a mixed finale. Both teams could play better football, both would have shown nerves, Klopp said. The three weeks of preparation for the final also brought not only positive aspects. “The rhythm is gone for now, that was also a new challenge,” he said.
For Klopp it was in the third attempt the first won final of the king’s class. “Of course, it’s infinitely important for the club, for the fans. Not at all for me personally. I’m happy for the others, for my family,” said Klopp, who had frequently lost the last game of the season: “This year we’re going on holiday with the gold medal. We’re gonna enjoy this. When we lost, my family always suffered more than I did. I’m glad I can give my wife the gold medal today.”
Klopp seemed visibly relieved. However, the tension had eased only slowly immediately after the final whistle. “I could still be running around all the time,” Klopp said. Before the game, however, he was “completely relaxed”.
“I sat alone in my room for four hours at noon today and prepared a meeting,” the Liverpool coach revealed. “I thought it sucked before. You’re alone, can’t talk to anyone. Then I took a nap, was completely relaxed, woke up and still felt good. So I said to the boys, “There can only be one reason, and that is you.”
Klopp stressed that he had never competed in a final with such a team before. “I love my Borussia Dortmund team,” he said. His Reds, however, are an “extraordinary and adult troupe”.
