Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp insists he is NOT out for revenge for their 2018 Champions League final defeat by Real Madrid despite Mohamed Salah’s comments… as he lauds Carlo Ancelotti as a ‘role model’ ahead of Saturday’s showdown
- Liverpool suffered a heartbreaking Champions League final defeat in 2018
- Mohamed Salah sparked debate after saying he wants revenge on Real Madrid
- Jurgen Klopp said revenge is never a good idea and is not the right thing to do
- However, German boss understands where his star forward is coming from
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp insists revenge for their 2018 Champions League final defeat by Real Madrid will not be on his mind when they meet again in Paris this weekend.
An error-strewn display from Loris Karius and an injury to Mohamed Salah capped a terrible night for the Reds in Kyiv four years ago, with Madrid winning their third crown in a row.
Salah however sparked debate earlier this month after Liverpool confirmed their place in this year’s final by revealing he wants revenge on the Spanish champions after being injured in the 2018 fixture by Sergio Ramos.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp insists revenge will not be on his mind in the Champions League final
Klopp’s men suffered a heartbreaking defeat four years ago in Kyiv against Real Madrid
But Klopp insists that revenge ‘is not a fantastic idea’ and ‘not the right thing to do’, despite understanding where his star forward was coming from.
Asked if he was feeling any extra motivation ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final showdown in Paris after their 2018 heartache, Klopp said: ‘No. It was a harsh night for us in 2018 to take. The circumstances, the way we conceded the goals, Mo’s injury.
‘We came there a little bit on three wheels after a long season. Players came back just in time to make it to the final, and we couldn’t replace Mo like for like.
‘That was the story of that Champions League final but I don’t believe in revenge. I don’t think you have ever heard that revenge is a fantastic idea. I understand it but I don’t think it is the right thing to do.
Reds forward Mohamed Salah (centre) said earlier this month he wants revenge on Madrid
‘I understand what Mo said that he wants to put it right, so do I. But in Germany we say you always meet twice in life.
‘That sounds like more of a threat than in actually is. It’s just like behave better in the first moment because if you meet again, you will get the reaction.
‘It’s all fine between me and us and Real Madrid. It’s a football match of the highest level.’
Klopp was also effusive in his praise of his opposite number on Saturday, lauding Carlo Ancelotti as ‘one of the best people you can ever meet’, and says the ex-Everton boss will never stop winning.
Klopp also described opposite number Carlo Ancelotti as a ‘role model’ on dealing with success
‘My English isn’t good enough to find a word for it, but what Carlo is for me is obviously one of the most successful managers in the world and is a role model in how he deals with all the success success,’ Klopp added.
‘He’s one of the best people you can ever meet. He is fantastic company, a really nice guy.
‘We have a really good relationship, but obviously that got a bit of a break when he was at Everton! The respect for him couldn’t be bigger. He will never stop (winning). But that doesn’t mean anything for this game.’
