Liverpool vs. Sevilla: Jurgen Klopp Quotes from 2016 Europa League Final Presser

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp stated on Tuesday that he wants to make the supporters’ “dreams come true” in Wednesday’s UEFA Europa League final against Sevilla. 

On the eve of the clash the Reds’ revered coach addressed the assembled media. Liverpool have performed excellently to reach the final of this tournament, beating some stellar names along the way like Borussia Dortmund, Villarreal and rivals Manchester United. Their next opponents have won this competition for the last two seasons, though.

The German, per James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo, has hailed the influence of the club’s worldwide fanbase and expressed his desire to give them a night to remember in Basel, Switzerland:

While Klopp has enjoyed a lot of success in his managerial career to date, most notably the two Bundesliga title wins during his time with Dortmund, his record in major finals is far from impressive.

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Since winning the German Cup in 2012, he’s lost four finals in a row, twice against Bayern Munich, once against Wolfsburg and against Manchester City earlier in the campaign, per Alistair Tweedale of the Daily Telegraph. Klopp is hoping that’ll change, although inferred he’d perhaps been a little unlucky in these games:

Naturally, the Liverpool boss was full of praise for the players who had pushed the club to such a memorable occasion.

When he took the job on a lot were quick to write off the acquisitions made by his predecessor Brendan Rodgers, predicting they would be shipped out. But Klopp clearly had faith they were capable of putting together a run and triumphing over adversity:

However, he also warned the group that failure to beat their Andalusian opponents here will ultimately determine just how this campaign will be remembered.

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“I am pretty sure if we don’t win the title nobody will think the season is a success,” he said, per Jacob Murtagh of the Daily Mirror. “For me a lot of things are in these seven months. But if you look back in 100 years nobody would say ‘that was cool’ but this isn’t the moment to judge. Winning tomorrow will make it much easier for you to say this season has been a success.”

Does that heap more pressure on the team to get over the line? Not for the manager, it seems, per the club’s official Twitter feed:

He also had high praise for their opponents and the standard of Spanish football as a whole

It’s going to be fascinating to see what type of team the Reds manager opts for, especially with doubts over the fitness of some key men. Forward Divock Origi is one player who will be battling to make the matchday squad.

Klopp was giving little away when quizzed on whether or not the Belgium international has a chance of making it, though:

Club captain Jordan Henderson was also alongside the manager and revealed he is not expecting to start the game following recent injury problems; he returned to action against West Bromwich Albion on Sunday:

The man who has taken on the armband in his absence has been James Milner and he emphasised the importance of getting their hands on this iconic cup:

For Klopp, the final is a huge opportunity. While qualifying for the UEFA Champions League would be a huge boost to the club, Liverpool are a team that is synonymous with European success. To clinch such a prestigious piece of silverware so early into his tenure would be a massive weight off the German’s shoulders.

It’d enrich his players too. The Reds’ last honour was the 2012 League Cup and given the alterations in personnel since, plenty of this group aren’t versed in what’s required to go all the way in big competitions. Getting that winning mentality instilled in this group would make the path to future successes under this regime a lot clearer.