Ahead of the match, Klopp insisted that he would celebrate if Liverpool scored against his former team, recalling that he did the same when he visited Mainz with Dortmund.
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Unlike Liverpool, whose Champions League hopes rest on Europa League glory, Dortmund sealed their return with Saturday’s 3-2 victory over Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga.
“I don’t think it’s the first time players have come up against a former manager”.
“You see how insane the world is?”
They dispatched (an admittedly understrength) Tottenham easily in the last round, and will be looking to put Liverpool away in a similar manner before making the trip to Anfield next week. We had a big celebration when I left, it was “thank you” and when I went back there it’s what they expected. It is loud, it is a big crowd and for the players everything is like it always is and that is the most important thing.
“It depends. If it’s in the first minute I don’t know, I won’t go running down the line. It’s not a problem, really – not for me and, unfortunately, not for them too!” I’m pretty sure I will not, if I don’t have to. But that’s how it is.
Asked how he felt to be back on his old stomping ground, Klopp responded that it was better “than North Korea or something”.
Liverpool face off against Dortmund less than 12 months after Klopp departed the club following a seven-year reign, during which he delivered two league titles and guided them to the Champions League final.
“I fear that Klopp is trying to lull us into a false sense of security and that he will try to get our fans on his side to ensure that the match feels like a friendly”, Watzke said.
Origi is the natural choice, with Klopp determined to get the 20-year-old more game time, his moment looks likely to arrive in the famous Westfalenstadion where the manager made his revered name.
Klopp has brushed aside the huge media attention as he focuses on the Europa League quarter-final first leg.
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We imagine the executive who had the bright idea is feeling rather silly this morning, although we do have to say we’re disappointed, as it would have been a very interesting experiment.
