It will be hellish, no one doubts that, but does Atletico Madrid, in addition to a huge motive, have enough quality to stand in the way of the machine called Liverpool?
December's draw has drawn up teams built to chase big things, with the giants from the city of the Beatles faring much better this season.
Liverpool dominates the Premier League, where they have as many as 25 points more than Manchester City, so at this moment they can focus on the Champions League. Without thinking about the consequences in the domestic championship... The current champion, however, knows that Atletico Madrid will not give away anything.
- This is probably the most difficult possible game in a football player's life. Atlético is in a phase of transition, that's why the oscillations are normal, but none of us think that the opponent will give us something - said the manager of "Reds" Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool is defending the trophy, there are many challengers...
- It's nice when you play the final of the Champions League, it's much nicer when you celebrate in that final. I have experienced both victories and defeats in the finals, I know well what I am talking about. We are still a team that can go all the way, but we are only one of at least a dozen teams that have the quality to do so - said the German.
He recalled Klopp and the matches from last season in the Champions League.
- The duel against Bayern in Munich is the best I have attended. We were also excellent against Barcelona away from home, although we lost. Yes, we are a real threat, but that doesn't mean we are invincible - says Klopp and adds:
- Atlético is one of the teams that forces you to be in fifth gear at all times. You have to work, work and work to deserve to beat them.
Atlético said goodbye to the fight for the Primera title, and was also eliminated from the King's Cup. The Champions League suddenly became the most important competition for Diego Simeone.
- Pessimism? No, I'm always an optimist, I give too much emotion to football to think in a negative way. We have 180 minutes waiting for us, nothing will be solved in the first match, but it would be ideal if we went to Liverpool with an advantage - says Simeone.
The Montenegrin representative Stefan Savić was announced from the first minute in Atletik, and the recovered Diego Kosta is also in the competition. Kieran Trippier and Joao Felix are out of the team.
- We are playing against a team that is writing history, which has broken many records this season. "Liverpool has a fierce pace, they play concretely and I have to admit that I admire the way Liverpool works," the Argentinian coach points out.
Atlético and Liverpool have played four times so far - they each have a win, while two matches ended without a winner. They met in the group of the Champions League (season 2008/09, both matches ended with a score of 1:1), while the "Kolćoneros" were more successful a year later in the semi-finals of the Europa League (1:0, 1:2).
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