JAKARTA - Juergen Klopp insists Liverpool should be able to return to the Champions League next season, after his team were eliminated by Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.
Liverpool lost 1–3 on aggregate to Real Madrid, having only played a 0–0 draw in the second leg played at Anfield on Wednesday local time (Thursday WIB).
"We have to get back to playing in this competition next season. We are Liverpool and love this competition very much. That is very important for us," he said after the match as quoted by Antara from UEFA's official website.
Evaluating Liverpool's performances in the two quarter-final legs, Klopp highlighted Real Madrid's third goal in the first game as well as his team's failure to score in the first 15 minutes of the second leg.
Liverpool actually had two golden chances in the first 15 minutes at Anfield, but Mohamed Salah failed to fire a fine finish in the second minute and James Milner's long-range shot was brilliantly blocked by Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
"The third goal in Madrid was the most disappointing thing. If we could have scored in the first 15 minutes, things might have been different," Klopp said.
Jürgen Klopp's post-match reaction 👇#LIVRMA | #UCL
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) 14 April 2021
"The situation is getting harder and harder for us. We started the game well and created a lot of chances, then Real were better able to control things in the second half," he said.
Now, Klopp and Liverpool will have to fight hard if they are to play in the Champions League next season.
The competition for the top four in the Premier League is tight and Liverpool are still two points behind the fourth-placed team with seven games remaining.
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