‘Bad loser’ Klopp takes swipe at Atletico tactics after Liverpool’s loss
Liverpool, Thursday
Jurgen Klopp hit out at Atletico Madrid’s defensive approach after holders Liverpool were knocked out of the Champions League on Wednesday.
Klopp’s side were on course for the quarter-finals after taking a 2-0 lead in extra time in the last-16 second leg.
Goals from Georginio Wijnaldum and Roberto Firmino left Liverpool 2-1 up on aggregate at Anfield.
But a howler from Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian opened the floodgates as Marcos Llorente struck twice before Alvaro Morata completed Atletico’s 4-2 aggregate triumph.
It was a bitter blow for Reds boss Klopp, who had seen his team dominate the first 90 minutes without taking enough chances to win the tie.
Klopp couldn’t hide his frustration at the way Atletico manager Diego Simeone set up his side in a cautious counter-attacking style for long periods.
“It’s so difficult to play a side like this. I don’t understand with the quality they have the football they play,” Klopp told BT Sport.
“They could play proper football but they stand deep and have counter-attacks.
“I realise I am a really bad loser, especially when the boys put such an effort in against world-class players on the other side who defend with two rows of four.”
The defeat ended Liverpool’s bid for a third successive Champions League final appearance.
Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain players celebrated with supporters gathered outside the ground after Neymar set them on their way to a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund behind closed doors on Wednesday, taking them through to the Champions League quarter-finals 3-2 on aggregate.
PSG needed to overturn a 2-1 defeat in the first leg of their last-16 tie in Germany, but Neymar’s 28th-minute header put them ahead on the night in the second leg amid a surreal atmosphere, as banned supporters congregated outside the Parc des Princes instead. -AFP
