Courage can win us the cup. That is the message Jurgen Klopp will pass on to his players as the clock counts down to Saturday’s Champions League final against Real Madrid.
The Spaniards are the strong favourites to create history and become the first club to lift the title in three consecutive seasons since the competition changed from the European Cup to its current format in 1992.
But Liverpool have a pedigree of their own of which to be proud, having won Europe’s showpiece tournament on five previous occasions, the most recent title coming in their incredible fightback against AC Milan in 2005.
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And Anfield boss Klopp believes the Reds will need to replicate that courage if they’re to turn over Real Madrid in Kiev on Saturday.
“We will try in a very positive way, to show the boys why it makes so much sense to be really brave,” he said. “It was not easy to be brave against Manchester City, it was not easy to be brave against Roma. But the boys did it.”
Those two victories, in the quarter- and semi-final, have propelled Liverpool into their first Champions League final since 2007 and although they lack Real’s savvy, Klopp believes that won’t be a crucial factor.
“Real Madrid are more experienced,” admitted Klopp. “Experience is important in life but it is not the only thing. You can level it with desire, attitude and work-rate. and that is why I love football.”
It will suit Liverpool to go into the final as underdogs, as they did against City in the quarter-final, so they can play without the pressure of expectation.
“Let’s go there and try to perform on a level which maybe people would say is not possible for us but it is possible,” said Klopp, who guided Borussia Dortmund to the Champions League final in 2013. “We did all the things we need to do plenty of times already in the Champions League campaign and now we need to do it again.
“Real Madrid is a really good football team but we are a really good football team. We are full of desire and we really work for our dreams.”
With the exception of the injured Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Joel Matip, Liverpool have a full squad for the trip to Kiev and having just enjoyed a free weekend the players are refreshed and raring to go. German midfielder Emre Can has not played since mid-March but could be available.
“The mood is very good for the club, for us and for the boys because we finished the season in the best way,” said the Anfield boss, alluding to the 4-0 thrashing of Brighton that secured them third spot in the Premier League.
“We felt really good and then having time to prepare for the game is really good… we think we deserve to be where we are because the boys showed up in the campaign. It was very exciting and now we want to bring it to the best possible end.”
2018 Champions League final
- What: Real Madrid vs. Liverpool
- When: Saturday 26 May
- Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev
- Kick-off time: 7.45pm
Champions League final TV channel and live stream
The Real Madrid vs. Liverpool final will be broadcast live on BT Sport 2 and BT Sport 4K UHD. BT Sport will also live stream the clash on its YouTube channel, website and app.
Champions League final betting odds
Latest prices according to Oddschecker (as of 22 May).
Winner:
- Real Madrid: 13/10
- Liverpool: 56/25
- Draw: 14/5
First goalscorer:
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid): 16/5
- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool): 23/5
- Gareth Bale (Real Madrid): 13/2
- Karim Benzema (Real Madrid): 13/2
- Moya Borja Mayoral (Real Madrid): 15/2
- Roberto Firmino (Liverpool): 15/2
- Isco (Real Madrid): 8/1
- Danny Ings (Liverpool): 17/2
- Dominic Solanke (Liverpool): 9/1
- Marco Asensio (Real Madrid): 9/1
- Sadio Mane (Liverpool): 9/1
