It’s difficult to know with Jose Mourinho if he’s being genuine or sarcastic; if he’s playing mind-games to try and divert attention to his own managerial record or actually just answering the question.
So when you hear him explaining how if Jurgen Klopp loses a third Champions League Final it’ll be ‘really, really hard,’ it’s hard to not worry it’s coming from a typically resentful place.
Still, he’s right – in fairness. Losing the upcoming game with Tottenham in Madrid on June 1 is not something we can consider after what happened in Kiev last year.
But as Mou suggests, Klopp is inherently positive and will not be weighed down by the ‘what ifs’.
“If Jurgen wins it’s an incredible achievement for him,” Mourinho told Sky Sports News.
“If Jurgen doesn’t win, you know….to lose three Champions League finals…phew…that has to be really, really hard.
“But he is a very positive guy, I’m sure he’s just thinking about winning.
“Being a manager, and understanding what it means for a manager to play a Champions League final, there is always a negative side of it and the negative side is that one team will lose and one manager will lose.”
The Final is now in eight days’ time – and you just know next week will fly.
Liverpool’s lineup practically picks itself, unless Klopp decides to spring any surprises.
Alisson between the sticks, Trent and Robbo at fullback, Matip and Virg in the middle, with Fabinho holding the midfield… Hendo and Gini will play either of the side of the Brazilian – with our fearsome front-three ahead of them.
In all honesty, we cannot wait.