Liverpool boss Klopp reveals admiration for Simeone ahead of Champions League clash with Atletico

Ahead of Liverpool’s meeting with Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, the Reds manager Jürgen Klopp has praised Atletico’s coach Diego Simeone, but says he’s not a fan of their style of play.

“Diego Simeone is doing absolutely everything right,” Klopp, who guided Liverpool to a 5–0 win against Watford on Saturday, said in his pre-match presser on Monday.

“He is the current Spanish champion. Very successful at [Atletico]. He has a bunch of world-class players, keeps them on their toes, they fight with all they have for their lives. That says a lot about the quality of Diego so I couldn’t respect more what they do.”

The German manager added that he’s not a fan of their style, but it’s okay as long as it produces good results.

“Do I like it? Not too much but that is normal because I prefer a different kind of football. That’s me. Other coaches prefer different styles of football. Nobody has to like it, it just has to be successful and that is what Atletico is for sure.”

“Atletico is a different team because they play with a different system, but they are still the same results machine as before.”

Both teams last met in the round of 16 of the 2019/20 event, with Atletico running out 3–2 winners after extra time at Anfield.

Liverpool will be looking to exact revenge when they square off on Tuesday night at the Wanda Metropolitano in a Group B encounter.