Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has stated that he is expecting a stern test from La Liga side Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday and does not believe their 2019-20 season has been as bad as suggested by most other fans and pundits.
The Madrid outfit has been contenders for European football’s top club prize in the past few seasons but come into this week’s clash with Klopp’s Liverpool as underdogs as the Reds aim to defend their title.
Diego Simeone’s men currently sit fourth on the LaLiga table and are in a tough battle to qualify for the Champions League once again next season and many believe that Atleti will struggle against runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool over the two-legged clash.
However, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has thrown caution to the wind, suggesting that a transitional season at the Wanda Metropolitano following the departures of key players in the form of Antoine Griezmann, Diego Godin and Lucas Hernandez has been solid enough.
The 52-year-old spoke to reporters ahead of the trip to Spain and explained that Simeone sets up his team quite well due to their organization and stubbornness to be broken down, “Playing Atletico is one of the most difficult things in the life of a football player, they are really well organized, a result machine, squeezing results out of each game if possible.
He further added some caution to not getting carried away with what most people state, “Yes, people tell me this year is not exactly like that, but it’s a transition period – that’s normal. They’re still fighting with all they have. You don’t get a lot of chances. It’s really difficult. What they played so far in the season was not as bad as people say and have nothing to do with what happens tomorrow, obviously. The team that will play better tomorrow and the next game, who fights more, who wants more, will go into the next round – not the team who plays the better Premier League or LaLiga season. It’s as easy as that.”
