Klopp Basking On Anfield Atmosphere To Eliminate Atletico
Jurgen Klopp is basking on the vociferous Anfield atmosphere to help Liverpool progress beyond the UEFA Champions League round of 16 stage when they meet Atletico Madrid in the second leg on March 11.
The reigning European champions returned to the setting of last summer’s triumph on Tuesday but succumbed to a 1-0 loss to Diego Simeone’s men thanks to a 4th minute Saul Niguez strike.
Liverpool failed to produce a single shot on target in the entire 90 minutes but came close to find the back of the net with wide efforts from Mohamed Salah and Jordan Henderson.
The Red’s task of getting a positive result was made even harder by the raucous atmosphere produced by the home fans at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
Klopp has never lost a two-legged European tie since taking over Liverpool in October 2015, and the former Borussia Dortmund manager is relying on his beloved fans to help continue that trend next month.
"I have no problem with the result," Klopp told his post-match press conference. "The intensity of the game was absolutely exactly how it should be.
"We put the opponent under pressure in the final third but were not clinical and didn't have enough clear-cut chances. We had chances but not enough, but that is normal.
"Staying in a game like this is development. We've had games in atmospheres like this, lost our focus a little bit and then the opponent could score a second one, but it didn't look like that tonight.
"It's half-time, we're 1-0 down, but we wouldn't give up at half-time so why would we give up now. And, even better, the second half will be played in a different stadium, our stadium.
"That will be different, and Atletico will feel that. That is what we are looking forward too. I saw a lot of happy faces from Atletico, I get that because it was a big win, but it is not over yet."
