Jurgen Klopp is delighted that Liverpool avoided both Chelsea and Manchester City in Friday’s Champions League quarter-final draw.
The Reds travel to Lisbon to play Benfica in what is a favourable looking tie. Speaking to liverpoolfc.com Klopp said he was pleased not to meet a fellow English club at this stage of the competition.
“The only thing I didn’t want to have – I would have taken everybody – but the only thing I didn’t want was an English team,” said Klopp.
“We had that in the past and we went through, we played a final against an English team, it’s absolutely fine, in the final anyway you take whoever you get. But actually I was just happy it’s not an English club.”
We’ve conquered all of Europe
Klopp’s feelings are likely to be echoed by the fanbase. European competitions are about trips to distant cities and challenging yourself against something different.
The familiarity of facing an English side means that European games against them are often cagey and tense affairs. There isn’t the same level of excitement at travelling to play on the continent.
But all that aside, the quality of the two Premier League teams left make them undesirable opponents, too. From a footballing point of view, City and Chelsea are two of the strongest teams in the last eight.
Klopp recognises that both of these points are important.
“Not only because of the quality but because of the competition as well, we play them often enough during a season and it’s good if you play somebody else in the European competitions.”
Plotting the route
The draw for the semi-final was also made on Thursday. Liverpool will face Villarreal or Bayern Munich if they manage to get past Benfica. That means that they now can’t face an English team until the final.
Klopp’s comments suggest that the preference is to avoid an English team full-stop. But we must admit that the prospect of a Liverpool vs Manchester City, Guardiola vs Klopp final is absolutely mouth-watering.
The two best teams in Europe, the two best managers in Europe facing off for club football’s biggest prize. That’s exactly the way the Champions League final should be.
However, revenge for 2018’s final defeat to Real Madrid or another match-up with Diego Simeone also sound appealing.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Benfica will fancy themselves to cause a big upset against Klopp’s favourites. The last Champions League tie between the two came when Liverpool were reigning champions in 2006.
The Reds lost that last-16 tie 3-0 on aggregate. If they need any proof that the Portuguese side shouldn’t be taken lightly, they don’t have to look far.
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