Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, has said his team will suffer against Barcelona, but will also have chances in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final on Wednesday at Camp Nou.
“Will we be perfect? That’s not possible. Will we make mistakes? Oh, yes. Will we suffer? Oh, yes, 100%,” Klopp said.
“Will there be moments when we have a chance? Yes, 100%. I hope we will use them – that is what we will try to do.”
The German, who guided Liverpool to last season’s final and his former side, Borussia Dortmund in 2013, further said:
“We can feel completely free to play our game. It is a brilliant team here at Barcelona.
“We were in contention last year, but they have been in contention for nearly 20 years. It will be so difficult, but I couldn’t be more excited to have the opportunity.
“I hope my players feel the same.
“Like Liverpool, Barcelona are five-time European champions.
However, Barcelona won four of their titles in the last 13 years, in contrast to Liverpool’s Istanbul triumph in 2005, which came after their 1984 success.
“I would say a draw would not be the worst result in the world, not that we go for it, but it would be OK,” Klopp further said.
“So many people came to Barcelona and had a plan and in the end they got a proper knock.”
Liverpool are also fighting for a first domestic league triumph in 29 years. They are two points behind Manchester City with two games to play.
The Reds are relying on City to drop points, in order to win the Premier League.
But Klopp noted that he would not be drawn on whether the Champions League is his side’s best chance of winning a trophy this season.
“We still have to play against Barcelona.”
“We have a chance in both these competitions, but we have to play these games. I never understand when people think a game is won or lost before it is played.
“At the moment, I do not need to know which is the better chance for us to win. We will try to play our best football, then we will see what we can get from it.
“When we go home, we will not be playing against City, we will be playing against Newcastle. But nobody has to think about that game tomorrow, because it would be a massive mistake to play Barcelona with 15% or 20% of your mind on Newcastle,” he added.
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