Barcelona vs Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp says his side are prepared to ‘suffer’ at the Nou Camp
Klopp admitted on Tuesday night that his side faced ‘one of the toughest games to play ever’
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Your support makes all the difference.Jurgen Klopp is prepared for his Liverpool players to “suffer” at the Camp Nou ahead of the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Barcelona.
Klopp admitted on Tuesday night that his side faced “one of the toughest games to play ever” by coming to the home of La Liga’s newly-crowned champions.
Barcelona are aiming to win this competition for the fourth time in the last 10 years, though this will be their first semi-final appearance since their last triumph in 2015.
Liverpool meanwhile finished as runners-up last season, losing the final 3-1 to Real Madrid, but they return to the last four an improved side, chasing honours at home and abroad.
When asked whether Wednesday’s semi-final ranked as the most challenging European tie of his Anfield career, Klopp initially harked back to last year’s showpiece in Kiev.
But having paid due respect to Madrid, he conceded that his side will have to be at their best to leave the Camp Nou with a favourable result.
“Barcelona, of all matches in the world, is one of the toughest games to play ever,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of difficult games to play and this is another one.
“We don’t want to avoid difficult games. We want to have them, because it means you play for something and that’s what we do. It’s not a problem.
“Will we be perfect tomorrow night? That’s not possible. Will we make mistakes? Oh yes. Will we suffer? Oh yes, 100 per cent.
“Will there be moments where we have a chance? Oh, 100 per cent. Will we use them? I hope so. That’s what we try to do.
“I know people say that Barcelona is not Barcelona any more, with Xavi and Iniesta. It’s a brilliant team here.
“We are the first year or second year in contention. They are here for nearly 20 years. It’s so difficult, but I couldn’t be more excited about having the opportunity to play them.
“That’s what I hope I can transport to my players, that they feel the same. Let’s play football.”
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