And Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke admitted concerns that more mental warfare could be waged by Klopp if he were to tug on the heartstrings of his adoring Signal Iduna Park public.
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Cape Town – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is “really looking forward” to facing former club Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League on Thursday. We have the highest mountain to climb in Borussia Dortmund but it is possible.
“We’ve always played versus our best friends and always wanted to beat them”. The result and performances on the field will tell whether Klopp was trying to play mind games with his successor Thomas Tuchel’s side.
“It’s true I know all the players except for Castro and Wiegl but that is not a crucial factor for this game”, Klopp added.
If he can take the pressure off our players then all the better, although they’ll be playing in a more intense atmosphere than anything they would have experienced this season.
“We’ve put ourselves in a good position, we’ve done the hard work, and you can see the end of the tournament”.
Dortmund swept aside Liverpool’s Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the last 16 phase and Tuchel admits he has had scouts watching the Merseyside club since the draw was made.
The 48 year-old German will return to the club he left in May after seven years of success at Dortmund, and the focus is well and truly on his “homecoming”.
Klopp said: “I will not go there and take some pills which mean I won’t celebrate a goal, ‘ he said”.
The Brazilian has missed the last two matches, plus two internationals, with a hamstring injury sustained against Manchester United in the last round on March 17.
Great season “Everyone has said Dortmund are favourites for the competition and I don’t think anyone disagrees with that given they are having a great season and can potentially be German champions, cup winners and win the Europa League”.
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“I know I am only one part of the game”, Klopp continued, “but if people around me act differently I can’t change that and I don’t care about it”. Who is favourite does not play an important role.
