It is the biggest game of the last decade for Liverpool Football Club, but Jurgen Klopp has told his side that he will take full responsibility if they taste defeat in tonight’s Champions League final.
Liverpool haven’t lifted the most famous trophy in European football for 13 years, and despite having five titles to their name, go into the final tonight as slight underdogs thanks to the strength of their opponents, 12 time winners Real Madrid.
However, the Reds have often done best in the bigger games, highlighted by the fact they have beaten English Premier League champions Manchester City three times this season alone.
Klopp has already lost one Champions League final in his career during his time at Borussia Dortmund, as well as the Europa League final with Liverpool, but the German has told his players that he will take full responsibility should the game in Kiev not go their way:
“We have an early agreement – I am responsible for the defeats. The boys are responsible for all the things we win,” he said.
“If we don’t win I can respond to that, 100 per cent.
“We’ve spoken about all the things but at the end, the main message is all the things we’ve worked on, since we were together, are made for being used in a game like tomorrow.
“It’s all about football. I think most of the players will be nervous. It’s a normal feeling, then do what you do best. Play football. Fight with your mates. Shoot, cross, make headers, bicycle kicks.
“Do the things you want. It’s only a football game. A big one, for sure, but we’ll try and deal with it as normal as possible.”