Jurgen Klopp promised Liverpool ’s fans that he will take them back to Istanbul after the Reds’ Champions League dream ended in heartbreak.
Real Madrid became European champions for the 14th time when Vinicius Junior’s second-half strike settled a game that had been dominated by Klopp’s side. Liverpool missed out on the Premier League and Champions League in the space of six days and had to settle for the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
But the final of Europe’s top competition returns to Istanbul next year - and Klopp has made it his mission to take Liverpool to the scene of their 2005 triumph.
Klopp said: “I have a strong feeling we'll come again. It's an outstanding group together. We will have an outstanding group next season.
"Where's it next season? Istanbul? Book the hotel!
“In the dressing room nobody feels it was a great season at the moment. We maybe need a few hours for that."
Liverpool were denied by Madrid’s former Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois, who was man of the match.
Klopp added: “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.
“We had a lot of shots but not the clearest. Courtois made two top saves. It's not bad to get to the final. It's a kind of success. Not the success you want to have.”
Will Liverpool challenge for the Champions League title next season? Have your say in the comments below.
The final was delayed for 35 minutes after UEFA’s ticket-checking security descended into chaos and fans struggled to get into the Stade de France. UEFA blamed the problems on fans using fake tickets.
They issued a statement, saying : “In the lead-up to the game, the turnstiles at the Liverpool end became blocked by thousands of fans who had purchased fake tickets which did not work in the turnstiles.
“This created a build-up of fans trying to get in. As a result, the kick off was delayed by 35 minutes to allow as many fans as possible with genuine tickets to gain access.
“As numbers outside the stadium continued to build up after kick off, the police dispersed them with tear gas and forced them away from the stadium. UEFA is sympathetic to those affected by these events and will further review these matters urgently together with the French police and authorities, and with the French Football Federation.”
