Jurgen Klopp reacts to Liverpool’s Champions League exit

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By Martin Graham | 17th Mar 2023

Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp has given an honest verdict of his side’s display, following their 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Having suffered a 5-2 defeat at Anfield last week, Liverpool trailed heading into this fixture and had their work cut out in front of them.

It has been an uncharacteristic season for the Reds and their recent form has blown hot and cold to go with.

Taking on Real Madrid at the Bernabeu was difficult on its own but doing so while having to win by three clear goals seemed like mission impossible for Jurgen Klopp and company.

It was yet another disappointing story for Liverpool as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid and bowing out of the Champions League in the process.

Klopp admits Real Madrid were ‘better’ than Liverpool

Speaking after the game, the Liverpool boss admitted the better side won and had nothing but praise and respect for the Spanish giants.

Klopp said: “We came here with the backpack we had with the three goals difference. You need a special performance and we didn’t show a special performance tonight. It was, in moments, a good performance, but Real Madrid was, for the whole game, the team in control of the game.”

“They had the better chances, Ali had to make two sensational saves to keep us in the game and that’s the reason. Again, if you want to go through you need to be outstanding; if you want to win the game, you need to be really good. In the end, Madrid were the better team and that’s why the right team went through to the next round.”

“People told me, my staff told me after the game. It is a really nice gesture. We are two heavyweights who meet each other quite frequently in international football. I think it is clear we respect each other a lot and whoever did it, whoever was doing something like that, [made] a really nice gesture, I have to say.”

“Absolutely. I was not angry after the game, but I was disappointed. I would be angry if we would have played better and it was close and then they win because of a penalty which was not a penalty or stuff like this. But in the end that all didn’t happen. Real Madrid were just the better side and I am long enough in the business to respect that.”

Jurgen Klopp reacts to Liverpool’s Champions League exit