Liverpool vs. Villarreal: Jurgen Klopp's Key Comments from Pre-Match Presser

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp thinks a strong performance from his players against Villarreal on Thursday will be enough to see them through to the UEFA Europa League final, although he wouldn’t be drawn on whether Daniel Sturridge will be part of the effort.

A stoppage-time winner from Adrian Lopez gave La Liga club a crucial 1-0 advantage at the halfway point of this semi-final. Next they head to Anfield for the second leg, a venue where the Reds launched a stunning comeback against Borussia Dortmund to progress in the last round.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday at his pre-match news conference, Klopp said if his players show their best levels, they can make it through to the climax of the competition.

"We have 90-something minutes. It’s about being patient with the right direction, to show that we know about the game," he said, per Joe Mewis of the Daily Mirror. "You cannot go to this game and say 'we’ll see what happens' then react. If we play our best, we can go to the final."

Here's a reminder of the winning goal from the first leg, per BT Sport Football:

Sturridge’s role on the night will be fascinating. At the Madrigal, the England international didn’t even make it on to the pitch, while he played the full 90 minutes against Swansea City on Sunday in a side made up of fringe players.

Klopp knew the question about whether the forward would feature was coming, although he played it with a straight bat, per James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo:

Villarreal will certainly need to prepare themselves for a hostile welcome. Ahead of the clash with Dortmund, Reds supporters made themselves heard from the moment the team bus rocked up at the stadium until the final embers of the game, when Dejan Lovren nodded in a dramatic winning goal.

When asked about the influence the fans can have, Klopp insisted he doesn’t really have the lexicon to do them justice.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

"I don’t have enough words for this," he said, per Mewis. "It’s one of the things in life you cannot buy. It’s most special. These moments when you really know we’re all together. Not only the crowd in the stadium—at home [too]. It’s a moment, I don’t want to make it too big, but it’s a moment for the whole Liverpool world. Everyone will watch it."

Here's more from the Liverpool boss on the crowd, per the club's Twitter account:

In a boost for the Reds, the manager also confirmed midfielder Emre Can is ready to take part in the contest after a spell out injured:

The former Dortmund boss spoke of Thursday’s opponents in glowing terms, too, although he did hint he knows what to expect from El Submarino Amarillo:

The 48-year-old also praised the standard of Spanish football at the moment, with four teams involved in the semi-finals of the Europa League and Champions League.

"Spanish football is really impressive. Combine really good players with good tactical advice from outside," Klopp stated, per Mewis.

"If you see Villarreal, for example, the legend of the players, the young players, the wingers, Barcelona, Malaga—good scouting too. Clever enough, dirty enough in the right moments to involve time-wasting."

Clint Hughes/Getty Images

Klopp also had a few words for the newly crowned champions of English football, Leicester City. The German hailed the exploits of the surprise table-toppers, who were confirmed winners on Monday:

There was a lot of patting Villarreal on the head after the first leg, with many insisting Liverpool can progress comfortably if they bring their best. However, the Liga side are cohesive, tenacious and have a fine record away from home in the Europa League. This is going to be a tough one to turn around, especially without the away goal.

It’s in games like this, when a perfect balance needs to be struck, in which the role of a manager can be so vital. Klopp received some criticism for the way he set the side up in Spain, and it’s imperative he opts for the right personnel here. Do that, and the Anfield crowd could well push Liverpool over the line.