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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Paul Gorst

Jurgen Klopp makes Atletico Madrid quip as Liverpool boss gets set to meet Diego Simeone

Jurgen Klopp has joked he will ask Atletico Madrid to use their dressing room after drawing the Spaniards in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Liverpool will head to the Spanish capital for the first leg for their first visit to the Wanda Metropolitano since they beat Tottenham 2-0 in June to be crowned European champions for the sixth time.

On the day of June 1, the Reds were housed in the home dressing room before goals from Mohamed Salah and Divock Origi saw Klopp's men crowned continental kings.

Klopp has said that he would like to once more sit inside the home side's changing room when he returns to the scene of his finest hour as Liverpool boss next year.

“I think we had the home dressing room in that game," Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com.

"Maybe we can ask them: can we have that dressing room again! It was really nice. It was full with Liverpool signs, but I think they’ve got rid of them.

“It is fantastic. What can I say? I had one of the best nights of my life in this stadium, but this time – first and foremost – we have to go there to work and try our best.

“Then they have to come to Anfield, which is a very nice place as well.”

Blood Red: Paul Gorst reacts to Liverpool drawing Atletico Madrid in Champions League

Klopp admitted that the durable and stubborn Los Rojiblancos present his team with a genuine threat as they aim to win a seventh European Cup this term.

The Liverpool manager, though, said his counter-part, Diego Simeone, will also be wary of what their visitors are capable of when they pitch up in Madrid in February.

Klopp added: "It’s an interesting draw, before the draw I actually thought it would be Madrid – either one of the two clubs – and that’s the way it is.

"Madrid is the place where we only have fantastic memories, all of us, so that’s great, but this time we play Atletico there and it’s their home ground.

"It’s a tough one, but if you go through all of the draws, there are pretty much four or five potential finals already in the last 16.

"So, it is really, really good, a good draw, a difficult game like it should be. But how we most of the time think and say, I don’t think Mr Simeone is running through his living room and is happy that he got Liverpool!"

Klopp's side could be heading to Madrid as world champions next year given their commitments this week in the Club World Cup in Qatar.

The Reds meet Mexican side Monterrey in Wednesday's semi-final before a potential meeting with either Flamengo or Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia.

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