Liverpool are on a roll once again in Europe and, fresh from demolishing Everton in his first Merseyside derby, Jürgen Klopp claims he already feels he is at a club that can win trophies.
Having put out his former side in the last round in a manner that could only inspire confidence, Klopp and his players take on Villarreal on Thursday knowing the Europa League final is within reach. Though respected around Europe the Spanish club have never been to a major final, whereas Liverpool’s history is not only impressive but can sometimes appear to work in their favour.
Klopp thought that way when his players were mounting their improbable comeback against Dortmund. “I feel there is a power at this club,” he says. “I felt it when we played Dortmund at Anfield and I saw it in the streets before the game. I believe that there are some clubs who are always more likely to win trophies than other clubs. I don’t know where that comes from, but I felt it for the first time when I was at Dortmund. Michael Zorc [sporting manager at Dortmund] told me when Bayer Leverkusen were breathing down our necks at the end of one season that I shouldn’t worry. He said they wouldn’t win because Leverkusen never win and that Dortmund were a club that wins titles. I feel that at Liverpool, and I think the supporters do too.”
The Europa League has not always been taken seriously in this country, and while it undoubtedly helps that it now provides a way into the Champions League for its eventual winners, Klopp enjoys the competition anyway. “I heard that the image of the Europa League was not good in England and I don’t really understand why,” he says. “The players have liked it, and I would have been happy with the Europa League even if we’d gone out in the quarter-finals. It was a nice journey, a good experience.
“Usually you work the whole year to go to Europe so to be in it was a nice bonus. I know the top four is the top four, but if you are fifth, take it, use it, do whatever. I like playing matches, whatever the competition.”
Should Liverpool win through to the Champions League via the Europa route, Klopp does not believe it will make a great deal of difference to the calibre of player he will be able to sign in summer. “If a player only wants to go to a club playing in the Champions League, then maybe this club wouldn’t be a good fit,” he says. “I know there are a lot of players who want to come here. Players know we are Liverpool. They know this is a big club. They know we want to have success in the future.”
