Jurgen Klopp gave a pretty poetic take on Liverpool’s potential revenge against Real Madrid. The Reds face a rematch of the 2018 final.
Naturally, there’s talk about Liverpool getting revenge against Real Madrid tonight. The Reds lost to Real in Kyiv back in 2018, of course, after some horrific errors by Loris Karius – and a remarkable Gareth Bale bicycle kick, to be fair.
Mohamed Salah, who went off injured in that game, has fuelled the revenge rhetoric. The Egyptian immediately said there was a ‘score to settle’ once Real confirmed their place in the final this year, something he claims the entire squad feels.
But while that might be the players’ attitude, it’s certainly not Jurgen Klopp’s. The Liverpool boss doesn’t believe revenge is a particularly good motivation.
“Of course, it’s like ‘Oh my God, we get a chance again’, that’s absolutely great,” he told BT Sport. “I just don’t believe in this kind of motivation.
“Of course, it’s nice to strike back … of course, we have to show we are different but I don’t believe that it’s enough.
“You can’t only want to strike back – there must be other reasons. I believe it’s easier to run towards the sun than to run away from the fire, to be honest. It’s more enjoyable.”
Liverpool’s Real Madrid revenge
Klopp is right, of course – as he usually is with these things. Liverpool can’t focus on simply getting one over Real for their ‘win back’. It’s got to be about winning the trophy.
But if a taste of revenge adds even more motivation to that desire, then how can anyone complain? These are two clubs – and two teams – used to winning trophies and the little extra details could prove decisive.
Liverpool will ‘run towards the sun’ as Klopp says but certain players might find a little extra glee in doing so.