LONDON: Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has warned Real Madrid his team will be “on fire” for the Champions League final in Kiev. The Reds go in as slight underdogs with the Spanish giants looking to become the first side since Bayern Munich in 1976 to win three consecutive Champions Leagues.
Zinedine Zidane’s side have retained a core group of players including Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, who have all been involved in lifting their past three European titles in 2014, 2016 and 2017.
But having seen off the challenge of Roma 7-6 over the two legs of the semifinal, Klopp and Co. head to Ukraine in confident mood and have told Real to watch out.
“You cannot be more experienced in this competition than Real Madrid,” the Liverpool boss said.
“I think 80 percent of their team played all these finals. They are four times in the last five years and still together. They are experienced, we are not, but we will be really on fire.”Agencies
If the Reds do win it would end a six-year trophy drought and be their first piece of silverware under Klopp’s management, having lost the finals of the League Cup and Europa League in 2016.
“We were in a League Cup final and didn’t win it,” Klopp said.
“People don’t tell me in the street since then: ‘Thank you for bringing us to the final.’ We were in the Europa League final too. Nobody tells me thank you.
“I see no trophies after these games. They don’t hang silver medals at (the Liverpool training ground) Melwood. That’s a pity, but that’s the game. There’s still a job to do.”