‘Really bad loser’ Jurgen Klopp makes jibe towards Atletico Madrid

Jurgen Klopp TEAMtalk

Jurgen Klopp claimed it “doesn’t feel right tonight” after losing to an ultra-defensive Atletico Madrid side in the Champions League.

Klopp admitted he was a “bad loser” and criticised the style of play from Atletico saying “they should be able to play proper football”.

Liverpool’s reign as European champions came to an end at the hands of Atletico Madrid as a 3-2 home defeat saw them exit 4-2 on aggregate after extra time.

In a tale of two goalkeepers, the LaLiga side’s Jan Oblak showed why he is one of the world’s best by single-handedly holding the visitors at bay in the second half as shots rained down on his goal with the tie level on aggregate at 1-1 after Georginio Wijnaldum’s opener.

By contrast Adrian, the goalkeeper who did not have a club in the summer and who was standing in for the injured Alisson Becker, had a shocking nine minutes in extra time with his error leading to Marcos Llorente’s goal after Roberto Firmino’s first at Anfield since April had put Liverpool ahead in the tie for the first time.

The Spaniard then seemed slow to react to Alonso’s long-range effort, which left Klopp’s side needing two goals in the final 15 minutes.

For once Anfield could not deliver one of its famous comebacks as Klopp lost his first two-legged tie as Liverpool manager at the 11th attempt, as well as his first European tie at home, despite having 35 shots, with Alvaro Morata adding a third in the 120th minute.

Asked if the defeat was hard to take, Klopp said: “Oh yes absolutely, I’m searching for the right words.

“For the score to go 2-1 was not cool, it was a blow but it’s not a big problem. The second goal was a bigger problem.

“After the second goal the legs were a bit tired. Everything that looked really natural in the first 90 minutes became a bit stiff. The crosses did not have the same quality We wanted the first time crosses like for the first goal, which was brilliant and the boys forget to do that.

“I am completely happy with the performance. It’s so difficult to play a side like this.

“I don’t understand with the quality they have the football they play. They could play proper football but they stand deep and have counter attacks.

“We accept it of course but it doesn’t feel right tonight. 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. They didn’t even have counter-attacks in the 90 minutes.

“We know in the last two years we had some lucky moments in the Champions League, you have to, to reach two finals, but today it was everything was against us in the decisive moments.

“I’m really proud of the boys.”

Kieran Trippier said it was a pleasure to learn from Diego Simeone.

“We knew it was going to be very difficult but we needed to stay defensively strong and try and frustrate Liverpool as much as we could. We knew that we’d get our chances if we beat the press of Firmino, Salah and Mane,” said the England man.

“Liverpool are very strong at home, I’ve played them so many times in the Premier League (to know that) but we knew we’d get our chances and it was about being clinical in those moments and we were.

“The way we play is the way we train. He’s [Diego Simeone] like this on the touchline in training, it’s a joy to learn from him every day and work with him. I knew I needed a change and when a club like Atletico Madrid come in for you, you can’t say no. I’m loving my time here and I’m learning new things every day.

“You’ve seen how defensively strong Atletico have been over the years and we showed that again tonight. The substitutes that came on made a big impact and were so important.

“There are some fantastic teams still in the competition. We will focus on ourselves and who knows what will happen at the end of the season.”