Jurgen Klopp Says Friendship Means Nothing Against Borussia Dortmund

 

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says it will be business as usual against Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League on Thursday. The 48years old German left Dortmund last May after a successful seven-year stint and he was subsequently hired by Liverpool last October.

He now finds himself back at Dortmund for a Europa League quarter-final tie, which gets underway on Thursday night and Klopp says he has received a very warm welcome and is not finding his return at all problematic.

He said “A lot has been said ahead of this match but it is easy for me, as I just have friends here. It is better to be here than, I don't know, North Korea or something. We got here early so I had 20 minutes to catch up with old friends. It would have been daft not to have that chance. Tomorrow is different, we are focused on the game. We will make our way straight to the dressing room. In sport We always play against our best friends and are always wanting to beat them. It's not a problem, I don't think about my situation for a second”

Borussia Dortmund are enjoying a fine season, sitting second in the Bundesliga, and are among the favourites to win the Europa League after cruising past Tottenham in the previous round. Klopp accepts that Liverpool will find it tough to reach the last four, he believes his new team can cause his old side plenty of problems. He said “We have said Dortmund are favourites and I don't think anyone disagrees with that," he said. "It is understandable, considering they are having a good season. But my players haven't travelled here without any hope we will get a result. We have looked at the way Dortmund play but my players have not come here and expected me to give them a detailed breakdown on every Dortmund player. If we are not good tomorrow it will be easy for Dortmund but why should I think about this? We have the highest mountain to climb but it is possible. We haven't lost a match in the Europa League. We had Augsburg and it was not too easy, and Manchester United was the biggest game and biggest pressure, so we are prepared for this”.

Klopp often celebrates Liverpool goals in exuberant fashion and has not decided whether he will be a little more subdued than usual if the Reds find the net on Thursday night.