Jurgen Klopp was a naturally downbeat man after the Champions League final on Saturday. Real Madrid claimed their 14th title at the expense of Klopp's Reds to make it two weekends of disappointment in a row for Klopp's men.
After missing out on the Premier League title last weekend, by one point, the Champions League eluded them on Saturday, with a Vinicius Junior goal enough to separate the two teams in the final in Paris. Liverpool played in every game they possibly could this season, going for the quadruple, but coming away with just the two domestic cup trophies in the end.
As expected, Liverpool dominated large chunks of the Champions League final, with Real keeper Thibaut Courtois named man of the match for a string of fine saves. The Reds had 24 shots to Real's four, enjoyed 54% of the possession and had more passes. But it is goals that count and a gritty Real Madrid display was capped by a Vinicius Junior strike to win the match and the coveted trophy once more.
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Klopp was obviously upset after the final whistle, but proud of what his team had achieved this year. He did, however, make one reference to Real Madrid's tactics, that would have been very familiar to Tottenham supporters.
After the game he said: "It was the two decisions against us were the smallest margins possible. We played a good game, not a perfect game. I don't think a perfect game is possible against an opponent set up with a deep formation."
Liverpool did struggle to get through the deep-lying Madrid line and it is not the first time Klopp has made reference to a team doing that against his side, although, given their success, it is something he will surely have to get used to. The Reds drew 1-1 with Antonio Conte's Tottenham side as the Premier League season came towards its conclusion and it was those two dropped points for Liverpool that had a huge impact on the outcome of the title in the end.
Klopp was not impressed with how Tottenham set up. He said after that match: "I'm sorry I'm the wrong person for that [defensive football], I don't like this kind of football. But that's my personal problem. I think they [Spurs] are world-class, and I think they should do more for the game. I think the game against us they had 36, 38 per cent possession. But it's my problem. I cannot coach it. So that's why I cannot do it. So yes, world-class players block all the balls, really difficult. Fine, whatever. fine, absolutely fine. I just can't."
