Champions League exit: Klopp takes swipe at Atletico Madrid

Jurgen Klopp revealed his pride at his Liverpool side… while sticking the boot into Atletico Madrid and their cynical style.

The Reds boss admitted he was a poor loser, after finally relinquishing a remarkable record which had seen him go undefeated in European knockout ties before this painful defeat which saw Liverpool crash out of the Champions League.

Klopp’s men did more than enough to win and go through to the quarter-finals of the competition they triumphed in last season – only a horror show from their keeper Adrian, and a miraculous night from his opposite number Jan Oblak denying the English club.

And afterward, the German coach couldn’t resist a brutal assessment of the Spanish side, even as he praised his team.

“The way they play, I don’t get it. I don’t understand how they get some of the best players in the world playing like that,” he said.

“Congratulations to Atletico, but I’m a really under-average loser. And if I said everything that was on my mind I would come across as the worst loser in the world.

“I’m super proud of the boys because for 95 minutes we played a sensational game. We were the clear better side, dominated a team which is packed with world-class players who are difficult to break down – but we did it constantly.

“I feel proud. I told them already they should be proud.

“The last two and a half years in the Champions League has been an incredible ride and journey. In some moments we needed luck or a really good hand and we didn’t have that tonight.

“I loved the way we played in the 90 minutes. We caused them so many problems and I love that – our big mistake was to score the second goal five minutes too late. We should have scored that in the 90 minutes and it would have been fine!”

Klopp refused to put the boot into his keeper Adrian, despite a shocking performance that threw away a winning lead given to the Reds by Roberto Firmino in extra time.

“He’s a man – the first goal it was pretty obvious it was a mistake and he knows that, he didn’t want to do that,” he said.

“But come on, Adrian has saved us in so many moments, and the boys know that.

“This was not the moment when we lost the game, but it had big impact. He makes the wrong decision, it is clear. The public will judge you, but he is a grown man and he will deal with that.

“That’s how football is and nothing to blame.”

Even Atletico manager Diego Simeone admitted that his side had more than just fortune on their side, as they somehow carved out an Anfield victory even as it seemed they were out on their feet.

He conceded that Adrian’s howler was the turning point in the game, but also insisted that the away goals rule was unfair on Liverpool.

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“It was unjust, because we had an extra half hour to score three away goals at Anfield, and that is not fair,” he said with a wry smile.