Jurgen Klopp believes last season’s Uefa Champions League final defeat has served to “kick-start” Liverpool’s progress as he praised his side for channelling their disappointment brilliantly.
The German now believes he has his best ever team as he prepares for his third Champions League final and second with Liverpool. The Merseysiders, who lost 3-1 to Real Madrid last May, face Tottenham Hotspur in Madrid on Saturday.
Klopp recalled the scenes as Liverpool prepared to leave Ukraine as he explained their remarkable progress in a continental campaign where they have beaten the champions of France, Germany and Spain.
“I remember that situation,” he said. “When we stood in the queue in the airport in Kiev, tracksuits, heads down, disappointed. It was a lot of different emotions. But the plan was, we come again, we will be there again and now we are there.
"That is just incredible. I think pretty much each team that loses the final thinks they will put it right. They don’t all have the chance. It was the kick-start for the development of this team, 100 per cent.”
Liverpool strengthened, with the summer signings of Fabinho and Alisson, who are set to start in Madrid, plus Xherdan Shaqiri, who has been an influential substitute, and Naby Keita, who will miss the showpiece because of injury.
And the former Borussia Dortmund manager believes this is the strongest group he has ever had.
"I don't like to blame my other teams," he said. "I love them all. But I have never been part of a final with a better team than this.
"In different times, for different reasons my teams were good as well. I am not so surprised because our boys mix our potential with attitude in the best way I have witnessed. That is brilliant, exceptional. It is a sensational situation.”
Winning the Champions League, Klopp believes, would be the greatest feat of his career, but Liverpool’s current progress still ranks below his first major feat.
“To bring the team to the Champions League final is the biggest moment in my career?” he asked. “No, that was 2004, getting promoted with Mainz.
"If you had known the money we had, the circumstances we had, nobody needed us in the first league. That was so far the biggest moment, but winning the CL with Liverpool? That would make me think something new.”
But Klopp ranked Liverpool's semi-final comeback against Barcelona, when they won the second leg 4-0, as a high.
“It was the best game I ever saw,” he explained. “Circumstances, missing players, 3-0 down, things like that.”
Circumstances went against Liverpool against Real last year when Loris Karius endured a traumatic game, as he was responsible for two goals, and Mohamed Salah was injured by Sergio Ramos.
“I hope something similar will not happen again,” Klopp added, while accepting it may have been a game too far for an injury-hit team.
“It was not the best thing that ever happened in football. In Sevilla [in the 2016 Europa League final] the tank was empty and last year a bit, plus losing Mo and conceding three really strange goals.”
Now Klopp says Liverpool’s attention has been drawn to the Champions League again. “The game is like a sun and it takes us in that direction,” he said.
Liverpool should benefit from the return of Roberto Firmino, who has missed their last three games.
“Bobby was part of training last week, really good,” Klopp said. “He will be fine, I am pretty sure.”
That represented a boost to Gini Wijnaldum, who had to play as a false nine in Barcelona. The Dutchman added: "I prefer to play in the midfield but if the manager needs me I will play anywhere."
