After some memorable and momentous matches along the way, including PSG, Napoli, and Bayern Munich, they were all outclassed by the miraculous comeback victory over Barcelona at Anfield.
But, now, the bristling passion of that night has given way to discipline, keen focus, and hard work in the Reds’ training camp.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the boys, but we are not in the moment to feel it,” Klopp claimed. “I have to kick their backsides in training, I have to push them, I have to keep them awake.
“I’m proud – very proud – but it’s not a moment to feel it; it’s a moment to really feel each muscle and it’s important we really say, ‘OK, come on, we need everything to do it because we want it.’”
It’s clear Klopp is pushing the players to exert every single sinew as they get ready to taste victory in Madrid. The work rate and preparations will be vital in what will likely be an energetic affair.
Nearly a year ago to the day, hearts were broken in Kiev when the Champions League final slipped from our grasp. Klopp will be determined to make sure that does not happen again.
Roy Hodgson
• Faced relegation battle
• Sacked in his first seasonBrendan Rodgers
• 7th, 2nd, 6th
• 0 finals
• Dropped to ELJurgen Klopp
• 7th, 4th, 4th, 2nd (97 pts)
• 4 finals
• UCL final 2x
• Record profits
• World class squadAppreciate Jurgen Klopp. 👏
— Señor 🇪🇸 (@EnRouteAnfield) May 30, 2019
“Now we are here again and what it says about the team is they don’t give up, they don’t stop.
Last year when we flew back from Kiev, after the game directly, there was a moment when we were all really sad and disappointed, frustrated, whatever.
“I was standing behind all the guys in the [airport] queue and going to the plane and I really thought, ‘We have to come back, we have to go back and get this thing right!’ And that we have that chance in the next year immediately is big, it’s really big.
“But, we respect the opponent massively of course. We respect them as a good team with a very special Champions League story as well this year. So, it will be a tough game, of course.”
A successive final is an achievement in itself, but an ultimately hollow one. Of course, what we really want with every fibre of our being is to lift No. 6 and win on Saturday.
Spurs – featuring in their maiden Champions League final – will do their utmost to upset the balance of play.
But, having beaten them twice already in the Premier League, and with extra experience at the highest level of European cup football, we obviously think the smart money’s on Klopp and his Reds.