Jurgen Klopp reacts to Liverpool FC Champions League draw
Liverpool FC saw themselves drawn in the ‘group of death’ alongside Paris Saint-Germain, Napoli and Red Star Belgrade
Jurgen Klopp has asserted that he expected a difficult group in the Champions League after his side were drawn in a ‘group of death’.
Liverpool FC were assigned to be in pot three which meant there was a high chance they would be drawn into a tough group which they were in Thursday’s draw.
However, Klopp is as-ever remaining positive about the draw and is relishing the chance to test his side credentials against some of Europe’s best.
He told the Liverpool FC official website: “No problem.
“The Champions League is the biggest club competition in the world, so it should be difficult because it is.
“We cannot expect to get an ‘easy’ group or whatever.
“I expected a difficult group, we have difficult group and that’s what the Champions League is all about.”
After reaching the final of last year’s competition, Liverpool should take a lot of confidence going into a group despite its high quality.
If they were to get out of the group, it would reinforce their credentials of being able to go one step further in the competition than they did last year.
For now, Klopp is focused on the games immediately ahead of him and is looking for the positives.
He said: “I am looking forward to watching PSG a bit more often, which is a very interesting project for sure over in France with Thomas Tuchel.
“Facing Neymar will be, for our Brazilian guys, like meeting a friend again and all that stuff.
“I’ve been to Napoli with Dortmund, so I know what the atmosphere is like there – in fact, it’s where I got a suspension [for being sent off]. I can do better, obviously!
“Red Star, I watched them last night. They came through and it will be, again, a very, very intense atmosphere I am sure.”
As well as being one of the most formidable attacks in world football, Liverpool crafted a reputation as a big-game team last season with a 4-3 win over Manchester City in the league, as well as besting Guardiola’s side in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Klopp didn’t play down the challenge his side face in the group stage and he rightly believes that their opponents will be fearful of facing them.
“It’s a big challenge, but for all the others it is a big challenge to face us,” he said.
