Klopp on UCL semis: The cool thing about Barca is that you’re never a favourite

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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is looking forward to locking horns with Barcelona, who he makes favourites in their Champions League tie.

Liverpool will never be considered favourites against Barcelona, according to the Reds coach Jurgen Klopp who also says that’s the “cool thing” about the Champions League tie.

The Merseyside club are looking to reach back-to-back Champions League finals but will have to negotiate a last-four tie with the Catalans to do so.

Klopp is looking forward to the opportunity of facing LaLiga’s leaders for the first time in his career, having already come up against the likes of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich many times.

Klopp ready to play Barcelona

“I have played against Real Madrid many times, but never in Barcelona,” he told DAZN.

“You want to see what is possible. The cool thing about Barcelona is that you’re never a favourite. To deal with the role, perhaps to do things differently than others, that is appealing, even if I have not made any concrete thoughts about it yet.

“Once we were in Barcelona with Liverpool on a Christmas trip, in a game against Gladbach. But to have seen that this is just a stadium and not a temple, that was certainly important.”

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Golden period for English football

Liverpool and Tottenham have reached the Champions League semi-finals, while Chelsea and Arsenal are in the Europa League last four and Klopp believes English football is enjoying a golden period.

“In general, a few big clubs are currently making a bigger change. Real Madrid have sold Cristiano [Ronaldo], Bayern Munich are doing a personal change too,” he added.

“That’s going to be the same with other clubs in the near future. In England the top four have a very good age structure. And of course, there are a few other reasons why there are a lot of good footballers around here in England.

“English football is good, the national team too, the top six are all very good – but that’s never a guarantee for the future.”

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