Exclusive: Jürgen Klopp's reaction to LFC v Dortmund draw
Jürgen Klopp offered his reaction to Liverpool being paired with Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League quarter-finals on Friday and insisted: 'It's a story only football could write.'
The Reds have been drawn against the manager’s previous club in the last eight of the competition, setting up a mouth-watering two-legged tie.
Before becoming Liverpool manager last October, Klopp spent seven years at Signal Iduna Park, where he achieved remarkable success, leading BVB to two Bundesliga titles, the German cup, two German Supercups and reaching the 2013 Champions League final.
Following the draw, Klopp exclusively sat down with Liverpoolfc.com to give his thoughts on two games he believes the entire football world will be watching…
Jürgen, Liverpool have been paired with Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League draw. What’s your reaction?
I am really happy with the draw. Yesterday I said why should I wish [to get] the strongest team in the tournament, but obviously if you want to win the Europa League, and when you are in the quarter-final, then you have to beat the strongest teams. It is better to play against them in two games than in only one game. I am really happy to introduce my new team to Dortmund. I am really happy to show the boys this wonderful stadium and a great city. It’s a story only football can write. We’re all happy. During the draw we had our video analysis meeting for Southampton and after that we were immediately training, so maybe my cellphone is full of messages – I need to have a look on there!
You say it’s a story only football could make up, can you allow yourself to imagine two sold-out stadiums, both sets of fans singing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’? It’s going to be really special…
100 per cent. 100 per cent. Two of the biggest clubs in the world meet each other in the Europa League, so everybody who thought a few months ago maybe it’s not that interesting of a tournament, hopefully they’ve switched their minds in the last few weeks. The games against Manchester United were two great, great games and now against Dortmund. Going to Dortmund and playing in Dortmund is one of the best things you can do in football. And then, they are all 100 per cent looking forward to coming to Anfield. It’s football at its best and how it should be. Everybody is looking forward to it. Then, two really intensive games and it’s good.
MORE: Borussia Dortmund profiled
For you personally, I know it’s all about the team and what Liverpool do over the tie, but will you allow yourself a brief moment to take it in when you return to Signal Iduna Park…
There are two things to say about this. On the one side, for me I was 18 years at Mainz and then in my break, after seven years at Dortmund, I went for the first time to Mainz’s stadium not as a coach, just to go there. It was never easy to go back and meet some friends or things like this because there was always another manager and I thought ‘I don’t want to disturb’ and things like this. I have a similar problem in Dortmund, to be honest. I still have three season tickets, but my son uses them and is very often in the stadium – when he’s not in Liverpool, of course. So, I am looking forward to going there. I loved this place, a few of the best things in my life happened there, so of course I am looking forward to it. But on the other side, I hate the hype around my person in these matches. I know about the business and all the circumstances, that’s clear, but I don’t like it to be honest. I will do what I have to do and then we will see. The game and the players, completely focused - or as much focus as possible - on all these guys. During the game, all the focus on these guys and then if somebody wants to talk to me after the game, I am available then.
As you said, they’ll be two really intensive games – two really great games in prospect…
Yes, for sure. Dortmund are a very strong side in Germany and, probably in most of the leagues in the world, they would be champions this year. In Germany, they have the problem that Bayern Munich is in the league! But they’re only five points behind and still have a chance to become champions. They’re a really strong opponent. But we are not bad too! Everybody knows our best games have been made against really strong sides, so we know how to play this, we know how to handle it and we know a lot of Dortmund players – not all, but 98 per cent. So it’s open and two games that I think the whole world will watch.