Jurgen Klopp has said he was happy Liverpool avoided Chelsea and Manchester City in the Champions League quarter finals, but is wary of the threat posed by Real Madrid.
There was quality oozing through the eight sides remaining in the competition, but Klopp was happy to sidestep Liverpool’s Premier League rivals.
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“If we can avoid as long as possible then you do it, but all the rest, it was clear we would face a tough opponent.”
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Reflecting on the draw with Real, Klopp said it will be a strange experience facing Zinedine Zidane’s men without Cristiano Ronaldo.
“It’s exciting, exciting,” he said. “It’s obviously a tough draw but I am fine with it.
It’s only just over two years ago that we faced them and it was a tough night for us, so to get the chance to play them again is cool.
I think it’s the first time I faced them when Cristiano [Ronaldo] is not there; probably maybe the first time since [Gareth] Bale is not there. But obviously [Sergio] Ramos is still there, [Raphael] Varane still there, [Toni] Kroos still there, [Luka] Modric still there, Casemiro still there, [Dani] Carvajal still there, [Karim] Benzema still there.
“And a few young prospects, proper players on top of that. Again, I’m really looking forward to it.”
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